ArtReach Classes

ArtReach GW provides free, high-quality fine arts education, expressive and therapeutic art classes, and advanced fine arts college preparation facilitated by GW Corcoran alumni and local teaching artists to more than 200 youth and families who reside in DC Wards 7 & 8, and nearby Prince George's County, MD.

Summer 2024
Summer Intensive 2024
The ArtReach GW Summer Intensive program provides a free opportunity for high school students to engage in professional practices that will support their artistic development. In addition to developing fine arts skills, creating new works for portfolios, and going on field trips to DC museums and galleries, students will take part in workshops facilitated by local artists and design professionals that foster career and learning skills. This program is a free program and spaces are limited. Priority is given to DC Ward 7 and 8 students.

Spring 2024

Registration for Spring Classes begins January 19th.

Archi-Builder: Legos| In-person | 3rd - 8th Grade
February 14th - April 10th | Wednesdays | 6 - 7:30 PM
Use your creativity to explore architecture and engineering concepts through Legos. This program teaches students the design processes used by architects. Students will work in teams to learn techniques that transform early ideas into a final design. Presentation skills will be fostered to prepare participants to share their new skills and experiences with others. The end project is to build a scale model of their own architectural design. This class is in partnership with the Washington Architectural Foundation .

Developing Young Artists | In-person | 3rd - 8th Grade
February 15th - April 11th | Thursdays | 6 - 7:30 PM
This class is for new and returning young artists who want to build their fine arts skills. In these sessions, students will explore fine art techniques and methods such as observational drawing, painting, and mixed media. Students will learn about contemporary artists and art history, interact with local artists, and gain knowledge about building a visual art portfolio in order to apply to high school or college visual art programs. No prior experience required.

Intro to Character Design | Virtual | High School Students
February 13th - April 9th | Tuesdays | 6 - 7:30 PM
Characters are one of the most vital points to the creation of a story. In this class we will focus on the basics of character design. We will learn how a character is made from initial concepts all the way up to a finished character sheet you would find in an Art Book from your favorite movie. Students will learn about anatomy, posing, shape language, expressions and more and how to combine it all into a complete character. Laptops and tablets are preferred devices for this class

Traditional Drawing for Portfolio Development | In-person at GW Corcoran | High School Students
February 24th - April 13th | Saturdays | 10 am - 1 pm
The ArtReach GW Portfolio Development classes provide advanced arts training and portfolio development. Students learn to develop portfolio pieces that express their own creative voice while strengthening drawing skills in using a variety such as charcoal, graphite, and pastel. This class introduces conceptual thinking, problem solving, and elements of composition to create drawings that better represent each student’s individual creativity and drawing skill.

Digital Design for Teens: Designing Homes | Virtual | High School Students
February 14th - April 10th | Wednesdays | 6 - 7:30 PM
Step into the role of an architect and design a home for a prospective client! This digital modeling course introduces students to 3D modeling for architectural, interior design, and landscape architecture. Students will also explore architecture around the world and apply their creativity to the design process. Students will have a portfolio suitable for college admissions at the end of this course. In partnership with the Washington Architectural Foundation .

Adult Classes

Empowerment Through Altered Books | Virtual | Adults
February 5th - April 8th | Mondays | 6:30 - 8 PM
GW ArtReach and the GW Art Therapy Clinic are partnering again to host a virtual art therapy group. We invite new and returning participants to the Empowerment through Altered Books Art Therapy Group. Altering books is a creative journaling method to re-author your story and highlight what is meaningful to you from within the pages of a book, as well as by adding your own content to create space for your voice and meaning. We will explore new techniques for altering books each week, and you will be able to continue the process on your own to support your journey of self-care and self-discovery. No prior experience necessary. Any required materials will be provided.