Arts organization reborn as YouCAN!
Posted on Sunday, September 7, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Katie Smith, 9, of Fayetteville tries to put on a party hat she made Saturday while participating in the one-year anniversary celebration of YouthCAN ! and the Community Imagination Studio being located at the facility in Fayetteville.
YouthCAN ! has changed its name to YouCAN !
The announcement came during the group’s one-year anniversary celebration at the Community Imagination Studio’s new location in Fayetteville on Saturday.
“ Our new mission statement is that ‘ We are a community organization that provides empowering opportunities for all, ’” Barbara Price Davis, executive director, said. “ It’s a very small change, but we think it better communicates who we are. ”
Located about two blocks off Wedington Drive on Sang Avenue, the Community Imagination Studio is a division of YouthCAN ! that focuses on art education for the community.
While the group’s logo will remain unchanged, Price Davis said programs offered by the Community Imagination Studio will be geared toward the entire community.
“ We’re just expanding more into adult classes, ” she said. “ We do family programs. Our programs encompass a variety of fine arts media and instruction with the ultimate goal of fanning sparks of creative self-expression, exchanging perspectives, discovering new talents and building a relationship with the community. ”
The celebration Saturday recognized volunteers for their service to the organization and featured numerous festivities, including a cake walk and cake decorating contest. Let’s Bring them Home — a national missing persons advocacy nonprofit organization — offered free photos and fingerprinting as part of its Safe Kids Total Identification system funded in part through the Wal-Mart Foundation. The Northwest Arkansas Tobacco Free Coalition also hosted an educational “ Candy Shop” booth for kids and parents
“ This is just our way of saying ‘ Thank you ’ to Fayetteville for welcoming us with such open arms and making us a part of the family, ” Price Davis said.
Previously located in a retail shopping center in Springdale, the Community Imagination Studio’s new facility offers 6, 000 square feet of space. The new location features a larger art space and has room for individual offices, a storage area and yard space.
“ It’s been fabulous for us, ” Price Davis said. “ The space is more welcoming, and the neighborhood gives it a family-friendly vibe. The majority of our clients come from Fayetteville anyway so we can increase our clientele and participate in more community activities. ”
For more information or a list of programs offered by Community Imagination Studio, visit the Web site www. communityimaginationstudio. org or call 442-8586.
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