Arts Career Day at Anderson Ranch Arts Center was a great success! We welcomed 54 high school students and eight teacher chaperones to the Ranch. Four high schools were represented from the Western Slope region of Colorado including Caprock Academy, Central High School, Palisade High School and Carbondale Rocky Mountain School. Students and teachers participated in a full day of educational and experiential activities aimed to expose them to different career paths in the arts and the various roles in a nonprofit arts center.
The program kicked off with a poignant introduction by Executive Director Nancy Wilhelms and an engaging slide presentation given by the Artistic Directors. Students were then lead into the artistic studios to see the facilities, engage with Artists-in-Residence and Studio Coordinators, and even get their hands dirty making art! Students made colorful screen prints in printmaking, drilled and painted metal ornaments in sculpture, bent steamed wood in woodworking, built towers of clay in a race against each other and the clock in ceramics, and lastly, experienced studio lighting techniques while shooting portrait photographs in photography.
After a delicious pizza lunch in the cafe, students learned more in specific focus areas including marketing and social media, gallery management, Summer Series programming, and were given the opportunity to bring their artwork to a portfolio review with Artistic Directors Andrea Wallace, Doug Casebeer and Liz Ferrill.
Students were enthusiastic to intermingle with staff, tour the studios, and experience all that Anderson Ranch has to offer!
