The McKinney Center and Jonesborough’s Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts launched their fall 2019 schedule, featuring an abundant lineup of classes for all ages. With classes aimed at toddlers to senior adults, the McKinney Center’s applied learning system offers creative exploration across the board.
To kick things off, popular courses in ceramics will be returning this fall through Kids N Clay for ages K-3 and Young Potters for grades 4-7. Teens and adults can choose to participate in ceramics through hand-building, or they can take part in the potter’s wheel series, a two-part course for beginners at level one, who can advance to level two to further their skills.
New to the fall lineup is sensory art, a parent/child class that introduces young children to art processes, materials and creative exploration for toddlers ages 18 months to 4 years old. Also new to the schedule are more dance classes for all ages. Ballet will be offered for first through fourth graders taught by Mauren Pickle. Jazz and tap classes will be taught by Zoë Hester for first through fifth graders. Teenagers can join in with ballroom, taught by Emily Matney. Beginner level classes in ballet, jazz and ballroom will be available to teens and adults.
“We have tried to have dance classes here in the past,” said McKinney Center Director Theresa Hammons. “Because our program is only 5 years old, some people still don’t know about us, so we are doing an extra advertising push on our music and dance classes to try and help spread the word about all the classes we have to offer.”
Other subjects offered this fall are art for children, drawing, painting, mosaics, writing, music and film, and storytelling for children and teens. The favorite bucket drumming class will also return for kids in fifth grade to adults. The McKinney Center also hosts workshops in various subjects from 2D paper composition to alcohol ink art to glass fusion.
“I love all our classes and workshops for different reasons,” Hammons said. “We have a very strong visual arts program, and we now want to focus on other areas in the arts. I appreciate how the arts can inspire people of all ages, regardless of who they are or where they are from. ”
To register and find more information, visit www.mckinneycenter.com or call 423-753-0562 . The McKinney Center is located at 103 Franklin Avenue in Jonesborough.
