The Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) has become known as a place for the Oxford community to enjoy music, theater, family performances and to partake in a variety of arts classes for all ages. For the past three years, the Oxford Community Arts Center has provided an After School Arts program for school children in the Talawanda District. The After School Art program gives Talawanda School District students the opportunity to enhance and deepen their involvement in and knowledge of the visual arts. 
The 2010-2011program enrolled 114 children from all three Talawanda elementary schools and the Talawanda Middle School. Two nine week sessions, fall and spring, accommodated enthusiastic 1st to 8th graders once a week (Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays). Diane Stemper, artist and arts educator, coordinates and teaches After School Art; Jim McWilliams and Hilary Stevens taught the middle school classes; Caroline Croswell is the Executive Director of OCAC; and the program had volunteer support from 24 Miami University students, and numerous community members.
Children engaged in hands on art projects, learned about genres of art and themes in art. They learned about and used new tools, exercised their art knowledge, visited artists’ studio and met professional artists. Art projects included drawing and painting, recycled materials sculpture, pastels, weaving, paper-making and paper mache sculpture. Visiting artists included Roy Johnston (local painter), Robert Mullenix (local painter), Kathy Baxter (local papermaker) and Debbie Brod (Cincinnati mixed media artist). Unique aspects of the program such as visiting artists and the inspiring environment of OCAC’s historic building are all important resources and contribute to the success of the program. Transportation, however, is vital to the on-going success of the program and funding from the Talawanda-Miami Partnership for bus routes addresses the practical barriers that many working families face when considering whether to enroll their child. 
One parent commented, “Andrew loves After School Art. He has learned a lot of new techniques and enjoyed the unique opportunity to work with different media. He loves the ability to focus on a project in a great environment.”We gratefully acknowledge all the funders: Ohio Arts Council, Butler Rural Community Connections, the Oxford Community Foundation and the Kiwanis Club and in particular the Talawanda-Miami Partnership for providing continued support for After School Art.
Diane Stemper,
After School Art Program Coordinator & Educator
