Sanctuary Art Center Programs
Art Drop-In
Five days a week we hold open drop-in programs with access to instruction and materials in a wide variety of artistic areas. These include, but are not limited to, painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, music, acting, stained glass and sewing.
Art Outreach
The center provides education classes for three different groups ages 13-19 within the Seattle Public Schools system. Youth from the University District Youth Center, YouthCare, and the Zine Progam receive artistic instruction and can earn credit toward high school and middle school diplomas. Additionally, we do outreach at the drop-in programs through Street Youth Ministries and the University District Youth Center.
Employment Training
All year the center offers 10 week-long internships in silkscreen garment production. Youth learn basic employment skills and specific vocational skills related to printing graphic t-shirts and other wearable garments.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In the summer of 2012, Sanctuary Art Center opened a gallery and retail space, CMDP Art and Apparel. In this space, we are able to showcase the work of our youth, while also selling the youth designed shirts that we have from our Employment Training program. With this space being in the heart of the Pioneer Square gallery district, we are further connecting our youth the the greater community and become more of a presence in the arts community.
The Sanctuary Art Center is only limited by the number of staff we have to instruct and serve the youth that access our programs. Our main on-going need is for general operating support to continue to surround our clients with skilled and knowledgeable instructors and to connect them with creative experiences as well as the larger community.