Brian Garcia | Abstract
Community Programs
The Newburyport Art Association is committed to the value and impact of art in our community and leads two important community outreach programs, OpArt and ArtLink. Thanks to the generous support of The Institution for Savings Charitable Foundation, the Newburyport Bank Charitable Foundation, and many artist volunteers, the NAA is able to provide art classes to students in area schools, offer scholarships, and support art opportunities for adults with disabilities.
For more information, please contact:
Jenna Signore
OpArt coordinator
978-239-1599
OpArt
The OpArt program, founded in 2004, is a partnership between the Newburyport Art Association and Opportunity Works, with a mission to encourage and support individuals with disabilities to fulfill their life ambitions through the creative process. OpArt provides participating artists with artistic training to professionally create, exhibit, and market their artwork. The program is managed by Jenna Signore, with volunteer assistance from Michele Champion, Michelle Gray, Susan Leck, Christine Molitor Johnson, and Jane Ciccone.
OpArt is dedicated to empowering adults with disabilities to enrich their lives through creative expression and artistic practice by providing art instruction in a variety of mediums and techniques. Open studio sessions are held weekly at the Haverhill and Newburyport Opportunity Works locations. Artists are encouraged to work freely with materials offered (paint pastels, collage, drawing, sculpture, etc.) to create artwork centered on a particular theme or work independently. All forms of expression are encouraged, and the result is artwork that is unique, vibrant, and innovative.
Artwork sales support OpArt artists and Opportunity Works. The program is also made possible with support of local funders: The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, The Institution for Savings Charitable Foundation, The Provident Bank Community Foundation, and Matter Communications.
ArtLink
ArtLink is the Newburyport Art Association’s full scope of youth educational programs (conducted in collaboration with area schools). ArtLink initiatives include ongoing classes, workshops, specialized educational offerings, internships, scholarships for graduating students who are planning further work in the visual arts, a pre-college summer studio opportunity, and/or the annual Young & Budding Artists exhibition. The NAA works with area public schools to ensure that the visual arts are accessible to students from a diverse range of cultural and economic backgrounds.
Through ArtLink, Newburyport Art Association provides scholarships to local graduating seniors who are pursuing art, art education, and/or arts management in college. In 2022, the NAA offered 8 scholarships totaling over $7,500 in scholarship funds. Scholarships are made possible with the support of generous individuals, foundations, and community partners.
Scholarships are available for students at Amesbury, Newburyport, Pentucket, Triton, & Haverhill high schools.
