ATLANTIC CITY - Stockton University is offering free art programs in August for Atlantic City residents ages five to 18.
The programs will provide instruction and opportunities for children to develop skills in art, problem solving and teamwork.
Within the Atlantic City community, there is a dearth of arts or any kind of programming for children in the month of August, said Emily Sramaty, liaison for event planning and promotion for the School of Arts and Humanities at Stockton.
The programs are made possible through a $132,000 grant from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and several community partnerships. They will be held at community sites in Atlantic City and at the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton.
The programs would not be possible without funding support, said Merydawilda Colón, executive director of the Stockton Center for Community Engagement. We are grateful to the CRDA, the Office of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, Jim Johnson, special counsel to Gov. Phil Murphy, and our community partners, for their support.
Colon said the program would serve approximately 300 youths.
Every day is a new opportunity to engage a child, and the arts provide us the mechanism to do that, Colon said.
The Atlantic City Housing Authority and Urban Redevelopment Agency will host the Jacob Lawrence Mobile Studio and the Puzzle Challenge in the community rooms at Stanley Holmes Village and Buzby Homes Village.
Stockton also collaborated with Michaels Management and Better Tomorrows to bring the Jacob Lawrence Mobile Studio to the Atlantic Marina Apartments, and worked with the Police Athletic League to expand art activities at the PAL building.
Free weeklong Atlantic City Makers' workshops with local artists are also being held at the Noyes Arts Garage.
We are empowering the youth of Atlantic City through art and entrepreneur programs to develop their creativity, confidence, and life skills to succeed, said Michael Cagno, executive director of the Noyes Museum.
The Atlantic City Makers' Free Art Series for Atlantic City youth ages 12-18 will be held at the Noyes Arts Garage, 2200 Fairmount Ave. on the following dates:
