Education
Waterville Creates believes that participation in the arts is essential to a well-balanced and healthy life. We envision a community where everyone has access to—and takes part in—high-quality and lifelong learning experiences in the arts.
Slice
SLICE (Students Learning Innovative Creative Endeavors) is a multi-disciplinary arts education and engagement program designed to encourage students ages 13–18 to explore Waterville’s unique, high-quality arts and cultural programs and institutions. Offered in partnership with arts professionals throughout the state, this program showcases career opportunities in the creative arts for young adults. Each afternoon will be packed with information, inspiration, and pizza!
Youth Art Month
In celebration of Youth Art Month (YAM) and working with local arts educators, each year Waterville Creates hosts a month-long exhibition featuring artwork by students of all ages from over a dozen schools. In addition to the exhibition, Waterville Creates presents a number of associated, free, family-friendly programs, which have included Grandparents’ Day, a family paint night, Art Yoga for Kids, and more.
Maine Student Film Crew, Conference + Festival
In partnership with the Mid-Maine Technical Center, we present one of the oldest student film festivals in the country, the Maine Student Film + Video Festival, recognizing K–12 filmmaking achievements during the Maine International Film Festival.
Waterville Opera House School Shows
During the academic year, the Waterville Opera House offers a selection of performances designed to meet the curricular, financial, and scheduling needs of area classrooms and home-school groups. Spanning the topics of children’s literature, science, and history through plays and musical performances, these events are many students’ first opportunity to experience live performing arts. Each year, over 4,000 children participate in the Waterville Opera House School Shows program.
Waterville Opera House Theatre Camp
Waterville Opera House collaborates with Missoula Children’s Theatre, an internationally recognized touring group, to present weeklong theatre camps during February and summer vacations for students in grades 1 through 8. Theatre camp provides children with hands-on opportunities to learn about the theatrical process. Each week concludes with a fully realized performance, with scenery, costumes, and props.
Ticonic Gallery + Studios
Ticonic Studios provide a safe and supportive environment for creative endeavors for all ages and levels of experience and offer a diverse array of educational experiences that enrich, engage, and inspire. Opportunities span a variety of media—clay, drawing, painting, sculpture, 3D printing, and more—and are offered in a variety of formats, including weekly art clubs for youth, regular afterschool programs for teens, special one-time workshops, and multi-week classes.
Art in the Park
Art in the Park, a program of Waterville Creates and Ticonic Gallery + Studios, offers free artmaking activities each Thursday from June through August in Castonguay Square in downtown Waterville. Designed to foster creativity and community among residents and visitors to Waterville, Art in the Park welcomes participants of all ages and experience levels. Waterville Creates’ program partners for Art in the Park are the Waterville Public Library, Children’s Discovery Museum, and the Colby College Museum of Art. Generous support is provided by the Center for the Arts and Humanities at Colby College.
Thanks to Our Annual Supporters
