Daleana finds students returning
again and again and enjoying art
very rewarding, she said.
"It's wonderful to see a lot of
them come back and grow," she
said. "It's nice to see them come
back to something you created,
and they enjoy being a part of."
Daleana also recalled a
Northside High School student
who started coming to the Drop
In and Draw events held most
Thursday afternoons at RAM.
This student went on to have her
own student exhibition on display
at RAM.
"It's really cool to see her
growth," Daleana said of the
Northside student.
Being exposed to art and creating things
can have a positive impact on youths,
Daleana said. Students in school often
have a more structured environment, she
said, whereas those who come to RAM
to participate in the various classes and
events the museum offers are exposed to
something different.
"(Art) just helps them with their cognitive
skills," said Daleana. "(Art) helps them to
continue to use their imagination. And as
they get older, with any type of job, they'll
have to use art and creativity."
For those who are serious about pursuing
art, the various RAM classes can even help
students build a portfolio of creations,
Daleana added.
RAM hosts a number of free events each
week open to artists of all ages and skill
levels, many of them great opportunities for
children to create and experience art. Some
of these upcoming events include:
• ram saturday, noon to 3 p.m.
Saturdays, RAM, 1601 Rogers Ave., Fort
Smith. Art supplies provided. Some
upcoming craft topics for RAM Saturday
include African cardboard masks, Origami
butterflies, tissue paper flowers, Kente
weaving design, painting watercolor
sunsets and much more.
• drop In and draw, 1-3 p.m.
Thursdays, RAM, 1601 Rogers Ave., Fort
Smith. Bring your own art supplies. The
museum provides the studio and subject
to sketch or paint.
• ram sketch, 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays, via
Zoom and Facebook Live. Ages 10 and
older. Log in at fsram.org/education.
• creative cartooning springing
into Illustration (Spring Break online
art camp), 1-2 p.m. daily March 21-24,
via Zoom. Ages 8 and older. Register at
fsram.org/education.
• plates to go with picasso, 2-4 p.m.
February 11, March 11 and April 8.
Registration is required. Maximum class
size is 12. Cost is $30 per person. Held
in collaboration with Arts on Main in Van
Buren.
• ram summer art camp, Art camp
this year will have three weeks of fun,
learning about art and creating artwork.
Week 1 — Ages 5-9 years (July 11-14)
Week 2 — Ages 10-12 years
(July 18-21)
Week 3 — Ages 13-18 years
(July 25-28)
Cost is $25 for supplies. Snack
included. Scholarships are
available.
Please follow
www.fsram.org for further
information as this
program draws
near.
www.officialkidsmag.com • February 2023 • 27
