Family Art Nights are an opportunity for parents and students to experience art together. Families choose from one of three lessons, each based on a different famous artist. The first part of the lesson is an introduction to the artist’s life and samples of his or her work. Next, there is an explanation of the evening’s lesson, which includes a warm-up with the materials to be used. Then, parents and children each create their own masterpiece using the artist’s work as inspiration.

Three Art Corps leaders teach the lessons. The leaders set up the lesson, teach the lesson and clean up. The lessons last one hour. Set up begins 45 minutes beforehand, and cleanup requires an additional 30 minutes after the lessons are over. We have found that keeping the number of participants at 100 or fewer provides the best experience.

Each year, lessons are selected that offer a variety of materials. Lessons also vary in complexity, allowing children from pre-K through late elementary to participate.