LYME/OLD LYME — Registration is now open for the third season of Lymes Creative Arts, a summer arts program for teens residing in Lyme and Old Lyme. The 2023 season includes seven new offerings including filmmaking, photography, and ceramic mosaic-making, as well as returning favorites such as outdoor art studio and jewelry making.
The initiative is produced and underwritten by the Sustainable Committees in the Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme as well as the Lymes’ Youth Services Bureau (LYSB). Additional support is provided by the public libraries of both towns.
A guiding principle of the programming is to reduce barriers to participation such as access to program locations, time availability, and financial hardship. Fees for participating in the programming are either waived or minimal, and programming is offered at easily accessed locations in the two towns at a variety of times during the summer weeks.
Nine different programs will be offered through the summer. Space is limited in most and signups are online at LYSB.org/TeenArts.
Programming includes:
- Outdoor Art Studio with Kristen Thornton
- Watercolor Doodle Art with Denise Albert
- Introduction to Photography with Diane DeWolf-Carli
- Sun Printing with Liz Ellenwood
- Summer Filmmaking with Green Planet Films
- Ceramic Mosaic-Making with Lilywork Artisan Tiles
- Jewelry Making with Michaelle and Phoebe Pearson
- Learn Piano with SteveSongs
- Writing + Drawing Club: Let’s Get On the Same Page Youth Magazine with the Old Lyme-PGN Library
The initiative invited art instructors and craftspersons to submit proposals to teach the summer youth programming. Proposals needed to demonstrate that the workshop or class would be accessible to students of all abilities, introduced skills that students could enjoy on their own, and that the program could be delivered in a cost-effective way.
The Town of Old Lyme granted its Sustainable Old Lyme Committee funding from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant for the programming.
Since its inception in 2021, Lymes Creative Arts has sought to introduce artistic outlets that can reduce youth’s stress and anxiety during the pandemic and to create positive social interactions for youth.
All programs can be found at https://lysb.org/TeenArts. For more information, contact Lymes Creative Arts at [email protected].
Programming updates will also be posted on Facebook and Instagram with @LymesCreativeArts.