Posted on July 20, 2020 at 3:05 PM by Alisha Martindale
The Hamden Arts Commission, in collaboration with the Hamden Dept. of Arts and Culture and the Hamden Public Schools Dept. of Fine Arts, will be providing free summer art kits to approximately 80 Hamden families as a way to encourage the exploration of the arts while in quarantine. The kits are assembled with variations of classic arts supplies, like water color sets, brushes, markers, pencils and more, and are paired with a list of inspiring projects as put together by the HPS Fine Arts Dept. Collaboration and project management was overseen by the Dept. of Arts and Culture. The fist 45 kits were dispersed to families at the Hamden Mini Farmers Market in front of Miller Library on Thursday, July 16th with the rest scheduled to be dispersed at the next Market this week (if weather is hospitable).
The kits are meant to encourage families to explore the arts as an outlet of expression and creativity, together, especially in a time of social disconnect and isolation.
“I’m so looking forward to seeing all the amazing artwork that our Hamden Children will be creating and sharing with the town… I’m also proud to be a part of the Hamden Arts Commission that is bringing joy and color to the children of Hamden through all this uncertainty” says Arts Commissioner, Loraine Brown.
Arts Commissioner Jen McGarry states, "creativity and artistic expression are critical in fostering children's emotional and intellectual abilities. These free art kits, provided by the Hamden Arts Commission, will allow children to continue to explore the arts".
Kits were made available upon request for a short time using a Hamden.com web request link but due to a rapid and overwhelming demand, the link was closed only two days later.
"The rate at which kits were requested signifies how valued simple tools of expression, like markers and pencils, are by our families and residents. The arts are a visual language and tool of communication that bridge cultures by signifying commonalities through imagery when words are either not enough or not an option" says Arts and Marketing Manager, Alisha Martindale.
Families were / are encouraged to share what they make with the kits with the Dept. of Arts and Culture either by emailing AMartindale@Hamden.com or tagging @HamdenArtsandCulture on Instagram.