Children across Memphis have returned to school, trading in their summer activities for the routine of new classes, teachers, and classmates. Even as they settle into the school year, they can continue to enjoy all the offerings at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. With ongoing youth programs, children can experience all the benefits of arts education year-round.
Understanding the role of the arts in education.
Have you ever wondered why art class is included in your child’s school curriculum? It’s because art plays a vital role in a child’s development. Picking up and maneuvering colored pencils and paintbrushes helps mold fine motor skills. Finding ways to express thoughts and feelings on a blank canvas improves emotional development, and pivoting when a project doesn’t pan out encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
Art can also benefit other areas of a child’s education by reinforcing what they’re learning in a fun way. This makes learning enjoyable while solidifying new concepts in a hands-on, observable project. For example, if a child learns about pollination in school, they can take a walk around the gardens and see it first-hand in the way the breeze blows the pollen and bees buzz from plant to plant. If they’re learning about water properties, creating a watercolor painting demonstrates how water moves on a surface and interacts with pigments. Art can connect to their history lessons by exploring pieces that were created during the time period they’re studying, providing deeper insights.
Courtesy of Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Keep the learning going at Dixon Gallery and Gardens.
At the Dixon, we understand the role that the arts play in the lives of all people, but especially youth. This is why we provide a variety of ongoing youth arts programming for all ages (and families, too!). For young learners, ages 2-4, there’s Mini Masters. Both children and their caregivers can team up every Tuesday, 10:30-11:15 a.m., and explore art and nature with engaging crafts, movement, and more. Kaleidoscope Club is the perfect weekly after-school activity for ages 5-9, every Wednesday, 4-5 p.m. These art and horticulture projects are guaranteed to inspire critical thinking and creativity.
The learning continues through the weekend with Saturday programming options. Kids in the Garden, for ages 7-10, meets monthly on the second Saturday for a hands-on gardening workshop. Learners are introduced to the basics of horticulture and can explore the flora around them in the Dixon’s gardens. Project Pop-Ups gets the whole family involved. All ages are welcome to join on the first Saturday of every month to discover a new part of the Dixon through an easy-to-do art project. Most youth programming at the Dixon is free for members and open to nonmembers for a small fee.
The Dixon reaches thousands of children annually through its activities. In addition to on-site programs, Art to Grow offers free arts and horticulture lessons to students throughout the year in public, private, and parochial schools.
Admission to the Dixon is always free, so you and your family can make discoveries by exploring the art galleries and gardens at any time. Together, you can peruse art on the walls and learn about new art styles, mediums, and artists. In the gardens, you might find a new plant you’ve never seen before, sparking a journey into at-home horticultural projects or historical research into art you love.
To learn more about the program offerings at Dixon Gallery and Gardens, visit dixon.org.