Macoupin Art Collective

Community Outreach Expansion

Our goal is to continue our current programs, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to the changing needs and desires of our community, we are at a catalytic point of growth and have identified five key components to fulfill our mission within the community.

1)Fostering Friends: provides art sets to EVERY kid entering Foster Care in Macoupin County while partnering with Masters of Art Therapy Students at Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville. Building renovations will create permanent, private space, to build on this existing program by giving SIUE Art Therapy Students a new practicum location in turn giving our community access to art therapy. By 2021 master’s students will create a self sustaining program that spans to surrounding counties.

2)Free Craft Kits: allow kids to create safety in their homes. Almost 1,000 kits so far, with instructional videos, have replaced our presence at community events due to covid. These kits have expanded our mission to art materials to students. Volunteer run and donated materials, we hope to employ a local art educator to continue this project and to purchase supplies.

3)Creative Dabbler Classes: This summer we provided 21 free workshops on Saturdays. Our community tried their hand at new materials and tools. Sponsored partly by a grant from The Illinois Arts Council. We will expand to offer Free Creative Dabble Days once a month for the entire year.

4)Art Garden: We have created an environment that encourages our community to take ownership of our space. We remind them of community ownership through everyday actions. For example, we have taught students how to create clay totems for our art garden. Completion of the garden will require fiber artists to work with gardeners to grow a dyeing garden for a deeper understanding of the process. Inviting local scouts to assist in the building of a Raku kiln to allow for a new clay process. Woodworkers and stained glass artists create custom pieces to replace boarded up windows. 

5)Art Bus, Dream BIG: A renovated bus would allow for travel to small communities and provide classes. Working out of libraries or local parks, we would be able to provide classes with equipment otherwise inaccessible- including potters wheels, and sewing machines.