(FLINT, Mich., Feb. 26, 2015) – The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce YouthQuest program has been awarded a $2,000 grant to support the creation of Club 3D, an arts instruction club for YouthQuest’s middle and high school students.
The grant was awarded by the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs (MCACA) via the Greater Flint Arts Council (GFAC) to support art education through Club 3D at YouthQuest, a comprehensive, free afterschool program that serves more than 2,000 K-12 students in 18 area schools.
Club 3D instruction will be provided by local artists, with a focus on three-dimensional sculpture fabrication and its application of the skills in today’s workplace.
“We have found that our YouthQuest high school students like to engage in less traditional forms of art and instead practice techniques and skills that not only encourage artistic expression, but are also practical introductions to career-relevant skills,” said Rhetta Hunyady, Vice President of Education and Training at the Flint & Genesee Chamber.
“For some artists, the scrapyard can be as inspiring as the Flint Institute of Arts. YouthQuest is committed to exposing students to both experiences, and this grant will help us be able to do that.”
YouthQuest reinforces learning that takes place during the school day by offering high-quality activities and services that encourage the exploration of new interests in the areas of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), and promotes academic achievement, physical fitness, youth leadership and volunteerism.
Club 3D will utilize the expertise of local artists who will serve as art vendors at the program. Students will be introduced to safety, use of equipment, tools and techniques, and art elements (composition, form vs. function, materials, etc.).
They will also build leadership, teamwork skills and resourcefulness, as well as more concrete STEM concepts. Field trips may include scrap yards, museums/sculpture gardens, and manufacturers who seek workers with the skill sets introduced in Club 3D.
Individual and group art pieces created in Club 3D will be displayed during a student art exhibition at the YouthQuest End of Year Event in May.
For more information about YouthQuest, contact Hunyady at .
About YouthQuest
YouthQuest is a high-quality, research-based afterschool program offering educational and enrichment activities that engage young minds. Available at 15 sites in the city of Flint and Genesee County, YouthQuest serves 2,000 students in grades K-12 each year. The program is administered by the Genesee Area Focus Fund, a supporting organization of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. For more information, visit www.yquest.org.