FAIRFIELD, CT — Helping children find and cultivate their creative side through drawing, painting, designing, printmaking and pottery is the mission of Children’s Art Classes in Fairfield, the first Connecticut location of the national art school franchise.
The Fairfield site, in the Fairfield Woods Plaza at 2377 Black Rock Turnpike, is owned by Westport residents Monica and Jay Dulski, a couple with the arts in their bones; Monica has a background in textiles and art design, while her husband, Jay, is classically trained tenor.
“The response has been great so far,” Monica told Patch. The school opened in January, and currently 42 students are enrolled. Children aged 3 through high school can attend the school.
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As a business centered on children, the Dulskis said they have found a lot of support from similarly focused establishments.
“We have found Fairfield to have many other wonderful services and companies that support families and children, and we’re so proud to be a part of that,” Monica said.
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Last week, the school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with First Selectman Bill Gerber, Director of Community and Economic Development Mark Barnhart, and Communications Director Lisa Clair.
Gerber, who has a daughter who was interested in art at a young age, said he wished the school had been in town when she was a child.
“We’re very happy they chose Fairfield for their first Connecticut location,” Barnhart added.
The school offers a structured, age-based art curriculum that the Florida-based franchise developed over 26 years. It is designed to enrich students’ lives, help boost self-esteem, and improve academic performance.
Instruction is broken up by age: “Tiny Hands” is for children 3 and 4; “Introduction to Art” is for 5 and 6-year-olds; “Beginning Art” is for kids aged 7 and 8; and Art 1 is for students 9 years old and up. The school plans to add more levels for older students in the near future.
Classes meet regularly after school on a weekly basis, and are limited to 12 students or fewer, depending on the level. This ensures that each student receives the support and guidance they need to succeed, the Dulskis said.
The school has two art teachers on staff, Julie Rogers, and Karin Mansberg, who both have extensive backgrounds in teaching art to kids.
Children’s Art Classes also offers week-long workshops during the summer months, and also hosts birthday parties.
Monica said that while the school is focused on children, the occasional adult has also participated.
“We’ve had parents sit in with their children, and they’ve enjoyed it,” she said.
Children’s Art Classes, 2377 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, is open:
Enrollment for classes and the summer workshops remain open. For more information, visit the Children’s Art Classes Fairfield webpage.
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