Arts and Design Society Community Outreach Programs

For The Children of Our Community

• Three weekly classes for children: two in drawing and one in clay.

• We have two art shows in our gallery for students. These are a yearly event. The Van Porter Student Artist of the year is for 8th and 12th graders of Okaloosa County. This is a judged show and prizes are distributed. The second show changes each year. We have had artwork from the elementary schools, and two different high schools displayed in our gallery since we started this endeavor five years ago. We try very hard to get coverage in the newspapers about these shows

• In 1999 we commissioned an artist to go to the different high schools to speak on their life as an artist.

• ADSO financially assisted an underprivileged art student.

• Sponsorship of a summer "Kids Art Camp" has just completed its second year. We had to extend the "Camp" to two sessions this year. lt is for 7-12 year old children. Next year we are proposing 4 sessions and breaking the age groups into two groups of 7-10 and 10-15 year olds. The children come to ADSO*s workshop for two hours each day. A different media is experienced by the children each day. This has been a great success.

• Three workshops a year are held for the Girl Scouts to get their badges. One is in printmaking and two in clay. We also hold three workshops a year for the Boy's and Girls Clubs. These have been in clay.

• During the summer, high school students are welcomed to participate in the adult workshops and classes.

• In 1999 we worked with the Edwins Elementary 4th Graders to create a mural now installed just outside our Art Gallery. This took a lot of coordination and time. It looks great and has been well received by our members and the general public.

 

For Adults of the Community and Our Artist Members

• Sixteen different art shows (that are open to the public) are held in the gallery per year; our audience is about 2600. We want to increase this.

• We have four judged art shows a year; the Juried Art show which is held at OWCC Fine Arts Center, The Beaux Arts, The Okaloosa Fair, and a Photography and Digital Art show. 

• We have an evening dinner once a year with special entertainment.  

• Member Artists showcase album was started providing inexpensive advertising for those artists wishing to participate. 

• Nine weekly classes with between 60 and 90 students a week. 

• Five one-day workshops with about 47 students. 

• Six three day workshops with approximately 54 students.

• One five day workshop with 15 students. 

• Each month we have a luncheon. A speaker is part of the program presenting us with many different aspects of the art world. 

• A monthly newsletter is sent to all our members keeping them apprised of the classes, workshops add art news. 

Just A Few Other Activities

• ADSO is a member of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. 

• ADSO has helped with the Fort Walton Beach Main Street First Night celebrations.

• We have been holding a yearly garage sale Fund Raiser.