### <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Art Garage Newsletter January 2024**</span> ### <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**What’s new at The Art Garage?**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**2024 Summer Camp Lottery**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Thank you for your patience last year as we navigated our first lottery sign-up process for summer camps. We are excited for this year's lottery and our goal is to make the selection process MUCH FASTER! </span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Read the</span> [FAQ](https://artgaragedenver.com/articles/271) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">to get all the details of how this year's lottery will work.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">The lottery sign-up phase will begin on Sunday, January 7th and end on Thursday, January 11th.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">The lottery selection phase is planned to take place on Friday, January 12th and Saturday, January 13th. </span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Please welcome our new Interim Executive Director, Marcia Donziger!**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Marcia Donziger is excited to serve as the Interim Executive Director of The Art Garage in 2024. With 10 years of Executive Director experience for the organization she founded, MyLifeLine Cancer Foundation, she has a passion for building healthy, empowering, and inclusive work cultures in Colorado. She is the architect of the Culture CARES™ Framework—created to help today's organizations thrive.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">As a nonprofit leadership coach and culture consultant, Marcia has earned the trust of notable organizations such as the Colorado Nonprofit Association, Colorado College, Social Venture Partners Boulder County, UP Partnership, Club Z, DAVA, and Boulder Voices for Children. She holds a degree in organizational psychology and has received several awards, including the John Hickenlooper Unsung Hero Award, The Denver Channel's Everyday Hero Award, and most recently, the Outstanding Culture Leader Award in 2023 at the Las Vegas Health 2.0 conference.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Thank you so much, Marcia!  We look forward to working with you this year!</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**What do you do to express your creativity?**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"I express my creativity through writing. Recently, I published my first book, titled "You Are Meant for Great Things: My Story of Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones". This personal and professional memoir, which I affectionately refer to as my "COVID project", was inspired by the time and space I had while being grounded at home in 2020. Currently, I am working on my second book, focused on culture leadership in the nonprofit and social impact sectors."</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**A warm welcome to our newest Board Member,  Brandon Minch!**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Brandon is a self-employed software developer (and aspiring artist). He grew up in a small town in Nebraska and studied oil painting and digital media at Nebraska Wesleyan University before moving to Denver in 2010. Brandon loves all of the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer and recently completed his first Ironman triathlon in November! When he’s not swimming, biking, or running he loves volunteering and hanging out with the staff and kids at The Art Garage every week.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**What do you do to express your creativity?**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"I love to paint whenever I can find the time. I particularly enjoy painting people because there’s something special about capturing a simple gesture, expression, or moment in time and trying to convey that to the viewer in a way that creates an emotional connection with the subject. However, a close second has to be working with the kids at the Art Garage. Their creativity never ceases to amaze and inspire me!"</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Thank you, Brandon! We are so grateful to have you as a volunteer and as a Board Member!</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Interested in joining The Art Garage's Board of Directors and making an impact in your community?**</span> [Get involved](https://artgaragedenver.com/articles/211) ### <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Featured Upcoming Classes**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Friday Workshops and School Day Out Classes**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">9:00-12:00pm and 1:00-4:00 pm </span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Ages 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 </span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">These one day classes open the door to let imaginations run free. By combining technical skills and processes with exploration and play, students will learn various fundamentals of art while working towards finished masterpieces and, of course, having a ton of fun!</span> [Browse our classes ](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses?categories=36) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**After School Art Clubs**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Evenings from 4:30-6:30 pm</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Don't miss your chance to snag a spot in one of our after school art clubs! These classes are a great way to spend a couple of hours exploring artistic techniques, collaborating with peers, and developing their individual perspective. From painting techniques to zines and comic book making, ceramics, fiber arts and more! Scholarships are available.</span> [Find a club to join ](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses?categories=18) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Teen Classes**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**After School Art Club:**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Zines and Comics**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Tuesdays Jan 9-Jan 30</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Students will work collaboratively and individually on new projects each month as they develop their drawing skills, try new artistic media, and bring their ideas to life.</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>Sign up!</u></span>](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses/5143) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**After School Art Club:**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Drawing**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Wednesdays Jan 10-Jan 31</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Students of all skill levels will develop their drawing skills and techniques in this 4-week class! Each month will bring new projects and new skills, from perspective and proportion to value and observation.</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>Sign up!</u></span>](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses/5135) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Teen Ceramics**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Sundays Jan 7-Feb 11</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">This 6-week session is perfect for any skill level and will be structured to ensure you learn the essential aspects of hand building, wheel throwing, and glazing. Students will develop and grow their ceramic skills through techniques and projects led by our skilled instructor.</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>Sign up!</u></span>](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses/5113) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Friday Night Fun: Creation Station**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Friday, January 12</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">4:30-6:00 pm</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Ages 4-10</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Young artists will call all the shots in this station-based, open-studio-style art class! The second Friday of every month, students can join us to choose from a variety of art activity stations and enjoy the freedom to follow their imaginations and creativity wherever it takes them.</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>Join us!</u></span>](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses/5120) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Friday Night Fun: Parents' Night Out**</span> **Cozy Creations** <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Friday, January 19</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">5:00-8:00 pm</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Ages 5-10</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Enjoy dinner out or just a little quiet time at home while your child's creativity roams free exploring a variety of art materials and methods every third Friday of the month! We will unleash young artists’ imaginations with fun, creative projects and tame those ferocious appetites by providing pizza. In this session, we'll get inspired by our favorite cozy things during winter like hot chocolate, warm sweaters, and crackling fires.</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>Snag a spot!</u></span>](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses/5121) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**There's so much to explore at The Art Garage! See all of our upcoming classes for toddlers, kids, teens, and adults**</span>[HERE!](www.artgaragedenver.com/courses) ### <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Events in Our Community**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Weekly Figure Drawing Sessions at RedLine**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Every Wednesday evening, 6:00-8:30 pm</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Join us at RedLine every Wednesday for our weekly Figure Drawing session! Figure Drawing is non-instructional, laid back, and welcoming to artists of all experience levels. Materials provided.</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>Visit their website</u></span>](https://www.redlineart.org/) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**The Center on Colfax's**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Open Art Studio**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">January 11, 18, 25, 2024</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Every Thursday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for a drop-in Art Group put on by West of 50. This program is free to attend - the only thing you need to bring is yourself and a creative mind.</span> [Reserve your spot](https://lgbtqcolorado.org/organizer/the-center-on-colfax/) ### <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Kid Quotes of the Month**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"What is your New Year's resolution?"</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"My resolution is that my sister and I won't fight for the whole year.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">So far we've made it one day, so we are doing great."</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">-6 year old</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"What's a margarita?"</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"It's what adults drink."</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"Oh, so it has caffeine?"</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"Yeah, it has caffeine in it."</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> -7 year olds</span> ### <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Community Corner**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">This month, we would like to highlight The Gathering Place for the amazing work they are doing in the Denver community!</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Gathering Place (TGP) offers services to combat poverty and address the impacts of marginalization and oppression that are often contributing factors to poverty or homelessness. By offering low-barrier access to a broad range of basic necessities and wrap-around care options, TGP guides women, transgender and non-binary individuals, and children living in poverty from a place of crisis and instability to one of stability and security. While we refer to those we serve as "members," no fees are ever charged for programs or services.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"We believe deeply in the power of our community and continually work to strengthen it. Our key values include recognizing individual strengths, building respect and trust, and offering unconditional acceptance. We are not just a service organization; we are committed advocates for our members and promote social justice for every woman, child, and transgender individual in our community."</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>Visit their Website</u></span>](https://tgpdenver.org/) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Tasty Food: Free Meals for Denver Youth**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">"Denver invites youth, ages 5-18, to enjoy breakfast, lunch, supper and/or a nutritious snack. Tasty Food meals include up to five food groups that are low in fat and prepared fresh. No ID or registration required - just show up and eat up, and YES ... you can bring a friend, or two, or three, or more!"</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>See dates and locations!</u></span>](https://denver.prelive.opencities.com/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Office-of-Childrens-Affairs/ProgramsInitiatives/Tasty-Food) <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Scholarships**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Partial and full scholarships are awarded to students of all ages for The Art Garage classes, camps, and workshops! Scholarships are based on financial need and demonstrated motivation.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Applicants are expected to have transportation to and from class, to attend class regularly, and to fully participate in all class activities. Students' participation and attendance will be recorded and will be considered by The Art Garage administration in awarding future scholarships.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Please fill out the scholarship application and find additional information at</span> [<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><u>https://artgaragedenver.com/articles/87</u></span>](https://artgaragedenver.com/articles/87)<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Donate Your King Soopers Points to The Art Garage!**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Want to support your local non-profit for the holidays but don't have much to donate? Here's an easy way you can support The Art Garage at zero cost to you other than a few minutes of setup. If you have a King Soopers or City Market loyalty card you can easily add The Art Garage as an organization that will be donated to (at zero cost to you) every time you buy your groceries.</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**Just follow these basic steps and you'll be donating in no time!**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">\- Sign in or sign up at Kingsoopers\.com or citymarket\.com \(Even if you have a loyalty card you will need to create an account online if you haven't done so before\. You can link your loyalty card after creating a new account\)</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">\- At the home page click on "Savings" then drop down to "Community Rewards"</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">\- Search for The Art Garage by our name or GA477 then click Enroll</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">And that's it! Now every time you swipe your loyalty card you will also be supporting The Art Garage! Please note that the donations will only begin once you have a loyalty card registered under your online account which you can update under "My Account". </span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Thank you for your support!</span><br> <br> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**“Did you know about 4.3 million children get access to arts and culture educational opportunities through funding provided by SCFD.”**</span> <span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">**The Art Garage’s is sponsored by SCFD; a cultural funding tax district that serves 7 counties in the Denver Metro Area. Did you know that SCFD can offer this funding because YOU voted for it? To keep the arts and culture alive and healthy in Denver, SCFD uses just one penny of every $10 sales tax dollars in the district to give back to the organizations like The Art Garage. Thank YOU for voting for arts, science and culture!**</span>