Class Teachers:
Live Art is led by SPARC’s full-time faculty, wonderful teaching artists, and compassionate student support team.
*Teachers subject to change.
Dates/Location:
Thursdays from 5:15PM to 6:15PM at SPARC OR
Saturdays from 10:45AM to 11:45AM at SPARC
Grades:
5th through 12th Grade
Program Description:
Live Art is a multi-disciplinary arts program for youth with and without disabilities. While SPARC welcomes students of all backgrounds in all our programs, Live Art is unique. In this program, students are intentionally joined in a neurodiverse space where they can create, grow, and learn from their peers’ experiences.
Live Art classes are taught by our team of highly skilled teaching artists along with faculty who are specially trained in student support. These teams collaborate to design accessible, artistically rigorous lessons that build toward the final performance of an original work at the end of the year.
This final performance is a special opportunity for youth to take to the stage at the beautiful, historic Henrico Theatre. The piece that Live Art students perform is a one-night-only demonstration of artistic talent and compassion. Each year’s final show includes guest performances from professional artists around the Richmond community. Previous years’ guests have included incredible folks like Ali Thibodeau of Deau Eyes and Jonathan the Juggler.
Live Art: Light
Live Art Light
Live Art Light
Live Art Embrace
Live Art Embrace
Live Art Embrace
STUDENTS
In Live Art, we strive to create an environment in which each student’s artistic gifts are recognized and needs are met.
We endeavor to celebrate the students for who they are, as they are, while being a safe harbor in which they can grow, collaborate, imagine and create.
We hope the students find in the arts the ground in which they cultivate a world accessible for all people in our community.
CLASSES
Live Art classes meet weekly for nine months. Most students participate in one class.
Each class is a neurodiverse community led by teaching teams of teaching artists and special educators with the goal of transcending traditional educational silos. Building on skills and collaborating as artists, students and teaching teams showcase their work in a culminating performance.
Through exploration of artistic disciplines, Live Art stimulates social and emotional learning, fostering peer groups that accept each other exactly as they are. And through Live Art, young people thrive.
CORE VALUES
At their core, all Live Art classes have the values of CARE: compassion, acceptance, respect, and empathy.
Through the years, CARE has become the bridge between performing arts and real-world preparation for Live Art students.
The students imbue CARE into their lives, extending beyond the Live Art classroom and into the wider Richmond community.
The People:
Live Art is for young people ages 10-18. All learning levels & capabilities are welcome!
Live Art classes are taught by teams of teaching artists—professionals in their artistic fields—and special educators. These teams work together to create accessible, challenging, and enriching artistic lessons.
How to Get Involved:
To join Live Art, simply enroll in your preferred class through the link below.
During the registration process, be sure to include anything that will be helpful to our teachers and student support team in getting to know your student. Such details might include access needs or information about a disability. We also welcome further outreach from families to share more about how SPARC can help their child to be successful in our programs.
Behind the Scenes:
