Hecho en Encinal receives grants for after school art programs
Hecho en Encinal recently received two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts to support artist-led workshops for children and youth. The programs, Youth Arts for middle and high school students and Cactus Clubs for elementary students, will be provided in partnership with the City of Encinal and the Cotulla Independent School District . Both programs are offered free of charge.
The Youth Arts program, Échale Art, serves middle school and high school students who live in or near Encinal. Youth Arts meets Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Working with artist Ana Laura de la Garza, participants learn about painting, drawing, woodworking, mask making, and other art techniques. Field trips to San Antonio and Houston , including the annual Houston Art Car Parade, will provide youth the chance to see art and develop ideas for their own art car.
Artist Ana Laura de la Garza holds an MFA and a BFA from the University of Texas in Austin . Since 1998, she has exhibited her paintings in Austin , San Antonio , Laredo , and Dallas . She has experience with after school visual-arts programs for middle school and high school students. She served as an artist for a previously funded NEA Challenge America project for youth in Encinal.
The Cactus Clubs program serves elementary students (2 nd to 5 th grades). Art club participants will experience painting, drawing, mask making, watercolor, and bead work. In addition to the art clubs, after spring break the South Texas Writing Project will present a writing club for 4 th and 5 th graders. Please call Hecho en Encinal for a schedule of classes.
Artist Kimberly Walton leads the art clubs. She has a BFA from Winthrop University and experience as an artist for Springs Industries. She has taught art to children and provided art workshops for teachers. Her work has been exhibited in Texas , South Carolina , and North Carolina .
The program grants support part of the costs of each of the programs. Donations from individuals and businesses for supplies and other costs are matched to the grant funds. Donations can be made to “Hecho en Encinal.”
Hecho en Encinal is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing arts and cultural activities with rural communities in South Texas . Founded by Janet Krueger and Donna Lednicky in 1999, Hecho en Encinal provides art activities for children and youth after school, brings performers and artists to the area, collects and preserves local traditions, and leads the renovation project of the Ruth Carr Memorial Center to serve as a cultural arts center.
For more information about Hecho en Encinal, Cactus Clubs, or Youth Arts, please contact Donna Lednicky or Tina Nieto at (956) 948-7228 or hecho@netscorp.net, or visit www.encinalart.org.
