Bend Art Center

Continuing the great work started by Pat Clark, ScaleHouse and Bend Art Station, Bend Art Center provides a place for artists to gather, learn, grow and exhibit their work. The space offers a variety of workshops for beginner to advanced students and is often a place where artists find and connect with other artists. It's also a nonprofit and one needed in Bend—one allowing art to be accessible for audiences as well as artists.

Bend Art Center
550 SW Industrial Way #180, Bend
bendartcenter.org

Base Camp Studio

This local art studio for children and families is a true gem. Not often do art classes for children get explained as "open-ended art activities," because quite honestly, the idea of an "open-ended" art class for toddlers may elicit fear in your heart. I mean, so much could happen, right? And that's what's so great about it. Base Camp Studio not only offers exploration-based art classes, but also art therapy—a deeper, more substantial process allowing youth to heal after trauma. It's a service that seems reserved for the privileged, but Base Camp Studio is a nonprofit that has partial scholarships available.

Base Camp Studio
2531 NE Studio Rd., Bend
basecampstudio.org

Local PTA/PTOs

Every school has one, and most of them are responsible for some of the only art that will come through a child's school. While there are schools in Central Oregon doing a great job of bringing artists in, most only offer a few small classes throughout the year, outside of music. Ask that your school bring an actual artist to come into your child's classroom and teach them painting or poetry or photography or theater. The two organizations listed above can help you navigate this. Give some money this year to growing a new art community in Bend by supporting art, artists and organizations that continue to substantially grow what we are lucky to already have.