Being a town that prides itself on its artistic nature, it is important for New Paltz college students and community members alike to have ample space to express themselves. The arts are a fundamental aspect of New Paltz’ character, which is why the Art Education program at SUNY New Paltz has been running a Saturday Arts Lab, inviting local youth to explore their creative side alongside current SUNY New Paltz art education students.
The Saturday Arts Lab is a longstanding program within the New Paltz community provides art education majors with the chance to gain teaching experience while providing children the opportunity to engage with artmaking. For nine Saturdays in the fall, college students lead a variety of two hour classes at the Dorsky Museum and Smiley Art Building on campus. They teach classes covering various types of art, including printmaking, digital art, animation and more, for children ranging from ages 4 to 15 years old.
“Saturday Arts Lab gives almost-teachers who are about to student teach an opportunity to teach community kids here at the college,” said Lauren Hollick, a SUNY New Paltz alum and current Saturday Arts Lab supervisor. “During the week, they have classes where they go over their implementation and lesson plans, then they get to actually teach it and work through different ways to problem solve and how to explain things, and also how to assess their students’ growth and knowledge.”
Aside from developing technical skills, the classes have been instrumental in fostering the artistic community among both the children and student teachers. “What’s really nice is all these teachers become close to one another, and I hear them talking about things that are happening in each of their classes and reflecting,” said Hollick.
“They have opportunities to lead and opportunities to assist in the lesson, and then they write the lessons together as well. It’s nice to see them gather at the end of the day and reflect on their day together, and it’s nice to see groups sharing things that are happening in their classes or just excited to show the art that their students have made.”
The Saturday Arts Lab marks an important aspect of SUNY New Paltz’s unique art education program. While other SUNYs require art education students to pick an age group to teach, New Paltz ensures graduates are certified to teach K-12, a special opportunity that provides students with more pathways to success.
Although it is too late to sign up for the Saturday Arts Lab this fall, it is a New Paltz staple and will be sure to return in 2025. Those who are interested in viewing the work children made in class this year are welcome to attend the art show at the Fine Arts Building on campus on Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.