From the Director
Mar/Apr '07

In 1928 Mrs. Bruce Macdonald and Mrs. Walter H. Winchester approached George Crapo Willson with the idea of starting a community art school. Ten thousand dollars was raised among ninety donors and the Flint School of Art and Design, a private school, was purchased, a director was hired, teachers were added, and the enrollment grew from 8 to 150 students. Classes were offered in beginning painting, art appreciation, color and composition, figure and still-life drawing and painting, and a Saturday children’s class. In addition, exhibitions and lectures were introduced and the Flint Institute of Arts began its illustrious history as a teaching institution; a tradition that continues today.

The FIA’s commitment to art education has remained strong through the decades. When the Institute designed and built the De Waters Art Center and the Willson Galleries in 1958, nearly fifty percent of the 40,000 square feet was dedicated to studio space. The FIA’s recent renovation, once again, emphasized the importance of studio education by devoting significant attention to improving its education facilities. With additional space in which to expand, the studio program is experiencing steady growth. In 2007, the number of classes offered in fall, spring, and summer sessions will increase by an estimated 20% over 2006, offering a total of over 200 classes during all three sessions.

FIA art education includes much more than studio instruction. Under the direction of Curator of Education, Monique Desormeau, the Education Department in-reach and out-reach programs engage nearly 29,000 people each year. Including K-12 school classes, programs for educators in local school districts, pre-service training with art education students enrolled in Mott Community College and University of Michigan-Flint, family programs related to FIA exhibitions and other special events, a weekly art appreciation video series, and an annual lecture series, education programs involve more than 40,000 people.

The FIA Education Department is always seeking new ways to engage and inspire the community. Of special note, the Department recently received major funding from the Ruth Mott Foundation to launch a new visual arts-based outreach initiative. Dubbed ArtREACH, the program is designed to address school improvement goals by making meaningful study of the visual arts integral to elementary education. Utilizing Comprehensive Art Education strategies, FIA educators will collaborate with Flint Community Schools’ art and classroom teachers to develop visual arts learning experiences tied to the core curriculum areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The program will involve 8,000 elementary students (kindergarten through sixth grade) enrolled in 24 elementary schools in Flint.

John B. Henry III, Director