INFORMATION FOR PARENTS SEEKING CHILDREN'S CLASSES Dear fellow parent While I regularly am invited to and teach within schools and community holiday programs, I do not teach children within my studio classes. Children thrive best within classes of similar aged students, not adults. Besides, some of my adult students are treasuring their short child-free break from their own families!

However, I provide the follow suggestions and venues for you, and your child, to think about:

1. At your child's school
A lot of schools are beginning to now offer "art clubs". These occur either after school or sometimes during lunch time. Ask your school, art teacher, P&C if they can run or organise these with artists, casual school or relief teachers. Saves you making more parent taxi trips!

2. Local government / community holiday programs
Contact your local council Arts Officer, eg Stirling / Nedlands / Fremantle / Vincent / etc, to find their children art and craft classes at their local community arts centre.

Examples:
Fremantle Arts Centre. My child has attended a few short courses through them. Usually run by enthusiastic artists. See www.fac.org.au Ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-18.
The Tresillian Arts centre see See www.nedlands.wa.gov.au. I've taught their holiday classes a few times and it's a great setup.
The Loftus Community Centre has a 3-12 years holiday program. See www.loftuscommunitycentre.org.au

3. Selected TAFEs
Northbridge CMC TAFE has 11-15 years children's art classes during school terms see www.central.wa.edu.au Sometimes hard to find, better to phone on 9427 1318 or email at: gallery@central.wa.edu.au

4. Independent tutors/teachers
There are more and more of theses appearing. See 5. Advise below.

South of the River:
Willemina Foeken
See http://members.iinet.net.au/~w.foeken/classes/index.html a highly trained art teacher and skilled artist (the best combination) and has run small children classes for ages 7–17 for many years.

North of the River/Morley
Karen Frankel
See www.karenfrankelart.com Karen and her young staff are building a name for themselves. Sometimes waiting lists. Ages 5-7, 8-13, 14 - 17.

5. Advise
if class terms have started, still contact them and ask if there is a gap/or someone drops out. More classes during holidays, but often booked out weeks before, so contact and ask to be put on email list.

Always check that the tutors have professional training as teachers and artists, are experienced, undergo ongoing professional development, plus have current working with children clearances, and the classes are well resourced and not too large. Look for independent reviews. Word of mouth from other parents is also a good way to assess classes.

I got the "art bug" when I was young, and after a few detours, I now do it full time and get paid to travel the world!

It's a lot of fun when you are young (and not so young), then is a lot of hard work after university, but then it becomes a lot of fun again after that. Go for it!!!

Cheers

Graham Hay