October 10, 2024 | By Newport Art Museum
MLK Community Center and Newport Art Museum Collaborate on Free Adult Art Workshops
NEWPORT, RI – The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the Newport Art Museum announced today an exciting new collaboration: ArtLink, a series of free art workshops that will provide adults an enriching creative experience focused on self-expression and overall well-being.
Funding for the program, which meets weekly through spring 2025, is provided by the Bazarsky Family Foundation. The next six-week session begins on November 1. Registration is open through the MLK Community Center and drop-ins are welcome.
“Collaborations like the one we have with Newport Art Museum really enrich our programs,” said Heather Hole Strout, executive director of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. “The ArtLink program is connecting diverse people from across the community united in their desire to create. We’re so grateful to the Bazarsky Foundation for making this possible, and to the museum for bringing the program to us.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center to launch the ArtLink program, blending artistic exploration with mental health and emotional well-being,” said Mary Kate Hickey, director of education at the Coleman Center for Creative Studies at the Newport Art Museum. “As a cultural cornerstone in our city, the Museum is proud to offer dynamic, multigenerational programming, fostering vibrant, inclusive spaces for neighbors, members, and visitors to create and explore art together.”
Workshops are led by teaching artist Annabel Manning and feature a diverse array of open-ended art mediums, including collage, mixed media, and painting, offering participants the opportunity to explore various forms of expression that spark joy and inspire personal and creative growth.
To register for ArtLink, contact Community Programs Manager Melanie Saunders at msaunders@mlkccenter.org. For more information on Newport Art Museum programs and to receive updates on the museum’s schedule of events, visitwww.NewportArtMuseum.org.
About the Newport Art Museum: Founded in 1912 as the Art Association of Newport, the Newport Art Museum is a creative community and gathering place for seasonal visitors and residents alike. As a cultural cornerstone in Newport, Rhode Island, the museum offers dynamic, multigenerational programming and showcases a diverse collection of classic and contemporary art spanning centuries, styles, and perspectives. Discover more at www.NewportArtMuseum.org.
About the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center: Founded in 1922 and renamed after Dr. King in 1968, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center celebrated 100 years of service to the community in 2022. The mission of the MLK Community Center is to nourish, educate, and support Newport County, Rhode Island residents to improve their economic, social, and physical well-being. The Center works to build a strong and inclusive community where all people are empowered to be self-reliant and to live their best quality of life. Last year, the MLK served over 8,000 people, the most in its history.