The Friends of Ontario City Library was one of 79 libraries and organizations nationwide selected to receive the Curiosity Creates Grant to fund the wildly popular Artopia program. The Curiosity Creates Grant is a project of the Association for Library Service to Children and The Walt Disney Company in response to research presented by the Center for Childhood Creativity.
Artopia is a process-driven art program at the Ovitt Family Community Library where children are presented with a variety of art mediums they can experiment with on their own terms, at their own pace. Adults are asked to be hands-off as children paint, sculpt, collage, illustrate, and dance their way through all of the activities the library offers at each session.
In addition to continuing the successful flagship program intended for 5 to 8 year olds, the grant allowed the library to launch three more versions of the program. Artopia for Tweens and Artopia for Teens gives older children the space to explore the artistic process in a mature setting with all new art mediums. Artopia on the Go! takes Artopia activities on the road to Berlyn and Lincoln Elementary Schools where special education classes take a break from their usual schedule to have fun with library staff.
The library also partnered with the Chaffey Community Museum of Art to provide four art classes to kids, ages 9 to 14. Aleta Jacobson will be teaching techniques that kids can use to make their art projects come to life.
To get a complete schedule of Artopia programs, visit the Ontario City Library’s online calendar of events at ontariocitylibrary.org. Questions may be directed to Lauren Candia at (909) 395-2236. The Ovitt Family Community Library is located at 215 E. C Street in Ontario.