The Arvada Center Box Office is experiencing a high volume of calls today (July 1) through the weekend. If you have urgent questions, please contact us by email at info@arvadacenter.org - and thank you for your patience!
For more information please contact School Programs Coordinator Molly Berger - (720) 898-7240 or mberger@arvadacenter.org.
Arts Day at the Arvada Center offers students and teachers the opportunity to work with professional teaching artists to enhance classroom curriculums and address Colorado State and Common Core Standards through a variety of artistic disciplines and cultural arts activities. Arts Day provides fun and educational arts experiences that are designed for preschool through high school classes and can accommodate students with disabilities. This program is available as a field trip to the Arvada Center or as an outreach with instructors traveling to schools and community centers. With over 30 years of experience, the Arts Day program will ignite creativity in students and teachers alike.
Our Arts Day workshops are underwritten by the Genesee Mountain Foundation.
Arts Day workshops for early childhood and elementary school students are hands-on, fast-paced, and fun! Alongside an Arvada Center teaching artist, you and your students will learn new skills and build creative confidence. Programs are designed to tie into your existing curriculum and allow your students to explore history, STEM, and culture through an approachable artistic lens. Workshops are available in visual arts, drama, music, and dance, and are ideal for classrooms, scout troops, after-school programs, and community groups. Visit us at the Arvada Center for a custom field trip, or let us bring our programming to you!
Read through the workshops we're offering for the 2021-2022 school year! You can also download a PDF with this information at the link below.
To request a workshop for your group of students, please fill out the form below.
Students explore the techniques of pinch, coil, and slab with guidance from a skilled artist. Each workshop includes basic information about clay and historical or cultural facts when applicable.
All clay artwork is left at the Arvada Center to be fired: teachers are notified when clay pieces are ready for pick up. Clay workshops are not available for outreach programming.
Students explore making animals and people out of clay by breaking figures down into simple shapes.
Students will model their pieces from images and create birds and nests out of clay.
This workshop begins with reading Chicken Soup with Rice. Students then build pinch pot bowls and use their imagination to add characters from the story to their bowls.
In this workshop, students learn about the history and traditions of Dia de Los Muertos. Students draw inspiration from the style and techniques of traditional sugar skulls and create their own interpretation of a sugar skull.
In this workshop students learn about the anatomy, physiology and life cycle of amphibians and create their own clay frog.
Students learn about the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival while making Dragon Boats from clay.
In this workshop, participants learn how to create rhythms and different sounds using paint buckets and their imaginations. The class explores all of the sonic possibilities of a simple and common object.
Music through rhythm is explored from many different continents including: Africa, Europe, and Asia. Each region’s rhythm and music is tied into what we hear today in America, including: jazz, classical, military, folk, country, and rock by hands-on play with percussion instruments.
Participants learn the “alphabet” of African hand drums that form basic sounds to create the language of drums. Participants then learn to play traditional patterns used to communicate using these sounds and learn about African culture and how significant it is to the daily life of its people.
Participants take part in a series of fast-paced comedy skits involving unusual characters and wacky stories. Every student has at least one opportunity to perform in front of the group. Participants develop self-confidence and comic timing as well as strengthen cooperation and listening skills.
This workshop of theatre games, improvisation, storytelling, and movement stimulates imagination and encourages creativity both vocally and physically. From pantomime to team-building exercises, participants learn skills and techniques used by professional actors and storytellers.
Students use the story of Ella Enchanted and the concept fractured fairy tales to explore story, narrative, and characters in this interactive drama workshop.
Join us as we explore the world and personalities in Seussville! Students will use performing arts as a way to recreate Dr. Seuss’ world!
Drama activities excite imaginations of participants as a foundation for further exploration. Participants listen to a story, discuss elements and themes of the tale, and explore the story through movement and voice. Choose from: Greek Mythology, or Folk, Fairy and Animal Tales.
In this fun workshop that incorporates drama and literacy, students create and perform short scenes based on common stories or poems. As the children work together in small groups, they learn about teamwork, the creative dramatic process, and how to engage more completely when reading out loud.
Participants are introduced to acting concepts and terminology through a series of creative activities. Students are then selected to become actors in an adapted version of one of the plays listed below. Given costumes, props, and few simple lines, participants magically bring each story to life. Plays available for this workshop include:
● Inspired by Snow White (Grades K-5) - This participation play is a comedic adaption of the classic fairy tale. The time and place remain the same, but the names and roles of the dwarfs have been changed to set the scene for a hilarious ending.
● Journey to Treasure Island (Grades 3-5) - Red, the Pirate Queen is the villain in this play in which pirates maneuver to take over the ship and find the buried treasure. This humorous take on the classic tale filled with student-produced sound effects including pirates’ laughter, the pirates’ “ditty” and the wail of a ghost.
● The Story of the Three Little Pigs (Grades K-5) - Children use costumes and props as they learn simple dramatic techniques and brainstorm a new ending for their version of this classic tale.
● Hansel and Gretel’s Adventure (Grades K-5) - This workshop combines a variety of fairy tales including: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, The Gingerbread Man, and The Three Little Pigs as Hansel and Gretel set out on an interactive adventure including favorite characters from classical children’s literature.
● Inspired by Cinderella (Grades K-4) - A retelling of the classic story with costumes, props, and some surprises!
● Inspired by The Rainbow Fish (Grades PreK-3) - Based on the book, this workshop uses props and costumes to tell the story of the Rainbow Fish and his journey.
● Inspired by Where the Wild Things Are (Grades PreK-3) - Students learn more about Max, the main character and his journey to meet the Wild Things.
“All the world’s a stage!” Participants explore Shakespeare’s world in this acting workshop that combines literature with the performing arts. Fun tongue twisters from Hamlet, fairy scenes from A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, and acting games give participants a brief look at this famous playwright. Discover creative Shakespearean phrases and ease the understanding of Shakespeare’s dialogue through a trivia game and original comedic radio play based on six of Shakespeare’s works.
Learn how actors create those stage and scene battles without pain! Students learn the simple terms and techniques for basic stage combat, as well as introductory fencing techniques.
Students dive further into the story of The Velveteen Rabbit through drama games and teamwork. The ideas of characters, narrative and plot are explored.
African mud paintings are a textile art form found in several cultures of West Africa. Participants make their own mud painting by painting on cloth with mud, incorporating traditional symbols and patterns, and using their own unique designs.
Students get the chance to listen to the story of A Beautiful Oops and explore a variety of arts materials to create their own masterpieces!
Participants gain a deeper understanding of the master artist by exploring some of Pablo Picasso’s cubist portraits. Students then create large paper masks with abstract and exaggerated features, combining Picasso’s style with their own creativity.
La Música de la Naturaleza—The Music of Nature. Inspired by the legends of indigenous Chileans who create rain sticks to encourage rainy weather; students create an adapted version of the original cactus root rain stick.
Students learn about perspective and drawing as they take inspiration from large characters.
Based on the techniques of well-known author and illustrator Eric Carle, participants create their own “hungry caterpillar.” Students practice the technique of painting with color and texture and use cut up paintings and collage to design a caterpillar
Students use fairy tales as the backdrop to create their own self-portrait using mixed media.
Using examples of Georgia O’Keeffe’s work, participants learn how to observe and research natural forms by focusing on detail. Students create their own drawings through pencil and chalk pastels.
Star Streamers are an integral part of the Japanese festival Tanabata. Students learn about the traditions of this festival and then create their own Star Streamers by threading colorful, folded paper onto a string with beads that hang from a small branch.
Students explore two of Kandinsky’s painting styles through drawing to music and collaged circles.
Drawing upon Mexican folk art, students learn to draw with scissors by cutting a variety of felt shapes and facial features. Students then use the cutout shapes and a variety of other materials to create a personalized textile mask.
Drawing inspiration from traditional Central American fabric molas, students will create their own by using paper and layering techniques.
In this workshop, students will create a colorful and exciting picture of the solar system we live in. Using oil pastels, they will collage the planets and even let them orbit!
Students can bring an animal of their choosing to life! Paper collage and folding will allow students to explore a variety of mediums while creating their own puppet.
In this workshop, participants explore what life was like for children in pioneer times. Students learn that there was little time for play, and children on the prairie made their own toys. Participants make their own corn husk dolls using fabric scraps, ribbons and buttons for clothing.
Colorado’s amazing landscapes and rock formations become the backdrop to this workshop. Students will tear and layer papers to create a different type of landscape representation.
Students learn about Vincent Van Gogh by creating a painting similar to his masterpiece Starry Night. Oil pastels and watercolors aid students in creating their own version of the painting.
These one hour-long, “assembly-style” performance events offer an entertaining arts experience for large groups. They require a minimum audience of 75-150 students. Flat rate pricing applies.
In this high-energy, interactive presentation, children are invited to sing, clap, and dance along. Instructors bring the spoons, shaker eggs and the washboard for the audience to use. Puppets help convey stories told about the lumberjack family - Jack, Jill, Jigs, their horse, Jasper, the rooster and Jim, the lazy hound dog. Songs include: Turkey in the Straw, Cluck Old Hen, Kiss a Cow, Pig in a Pen, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, All the Pretty Little Horses and lots more.
This vibrant and energetic performance, based on the traditions of West Africa, takes the audience on a rhythmical journey from Africa to the New World and back to Africa. The intensity and dynamics of the music the ensemble plays gave the ensemble its name. “Kusogea” is a word in Ki-Swahili that means “to move.” “Nobi'' is a word indigenous to the world that means “people.” Kusogea Nobi moves people—it is virtually impossible to remain still when experiencing this style of music.
Dressed in typical 1860s attire, “Susannah and Jackson” tell stories of crossing the plains, interspersed with some of the best loved pioneer songs accompanied by guitar, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, mandolin, harmonica, and autoharp. Hear about early Colorado pioneer women: Clara Brown, Chipeta Silverheels, Rattlesnake Kate, and Matilda Godfrey. Tales include Native Americans, miners, cowboys, and ranchers. Look forward to lots of audience participation and an appearance by the Lumberjack family.
The sound of an authentic Taiko drum leads this exploration through Japanese culture. Costumes, Japanese folktales, percussion instruments, and the booming Taiko drum come together to immerse students in ancient Japanese art forms.
Yesterado is a one-hour-long performance featuring a light-hearted glimpse at Colorado history. Real-life travelling entertainers Jack Langrishe and Marietta Ravel are reimagined as a sort of goofy, time-travel welcome wagon committee, taking you back in time and giving you a glimpse of Colorado in the 1890s. To deepen your students’ learning, please ask about accompanying workshops that complement Yesterado.
Participants explore rhythm and music while developing gross motor skills in this fun and up-beat workshop. Participants find ways to express themselves through music and speak through movement.
Award-winning performance Artist Lorenzo J. Ramirez, Artistic Director of Grupo Folklórico Sabor Latino, takes students on journey back to ancient Mexico to experience the traditions, history and splendor of the Azteca people. Presented in full elaborate ceremonial uniform with natural instruments, Lorenzo provides participants with an engaging, interactive and educational experience of this unique indigenous culture.
Participation plays are lively and humorous adaptation of well-known stories performed by our professional actors with assistance from members of your group! All participation plays include simple props and costumes to help the story come alive. Choose from these stories:
• Jack and the Beanstalk (Grades K-3)
• A Christmas Carol (Grades K-5)
• Alice in Wonderland (Grades PreK-5)
• James and the Giant Peach (Grades 3-5)
Arts Day workshops for middle and high school students are hands-on, fast-paced, and fun! Alongside an Arvada Center teaching artist, you and your students will learn new skills and build creative confidence. Programs are designed to tie into your existing curriculum and allow your students to explore history, STEM, and culture through an approachable artistic lens. Workshops are available in visual arts, drama, music, and dance, and are ideal for classrooms, scout troops, after-school programs, and community groups. Visit us at the Arvada Center for a custom field trip, or let us bring our programming to you!
Read through the workshops we're offering for the 2021-2022 school year! You can also download a PDF with this information at the link below.
To request a workshop for your group of students, please fill out the form below.
Students explore the art form of Artist Trading Cards by making and sharing their own! Workshop will use the standard size of 2 ½ inches by 3 ½ inches for students to make their own creations and express their imaginations.
Participants gain a deeper understanding of the master artist by exploring some of Pablo Picasso’s cubist portraits. Students then create large paper masks with abstract and exaggerated features, combining Picasso’s style with their own creativity.
La Música de la Naturaleza—The Music of Nature. Inspired by the legends of indigenous Chileans who create rain sticks to encourage rainy weather; students create an adapted version of the original cactus root rain stick.
Using examples of Georgia O’Keeffe’s work, participants learn how to observe and research natural forms by focusing on detail. Students create their own drawings through pencil and chalk pastels.
Drawing upon Mexican folk art, students learn to draw with scissors by cutting a variety of felt shapes and facial features. Students then use the cutout shapes and a variety of other materials to create a personalized textile mask.
Drawing inspiration from traditional Central American fabric molas, students will create their own by using paper and layering techniques.
In this workshop, students will create a colorful and exciting picture of the solar system we live in. Using oil pastels, they will collage the planets and even let them orbit!
Colorado’s amazing landscapes and rock formations become the backdrop to this workshop. Students will tear and layer papers to create a different type of landscape representation.
Students learn about Vincent Van Gogh by creating a painting similar to his masterpiece Starry Night. Oil pastels and watercolors aid students in creating their own version of the painting.
Students explore the techniques of pinch, coil, and slab with guidance from a skilled artist. Each workshop includes basic information about clay and historical or cultural facts when applicable.
All clay artwork is left at the Arvada Center to be fired: teachers are notified when clay pieces are ready for pick up. Clay workshops are not available for outreach programming.
Students will model their pieces from images and create birds and nests out of clay.
Students learn about the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival while making Dragon Boats from clay.
In this workshop, participants learn how to create rhythms and different sounds using paint buckets and their imaginations. The class explores all of the sonic possibilities of a simple and common object.
Music through rhythm is explored from many different continents including: Africa, Europe, and Asia. Each region’s rhythm and music is tied into what we hear today in America, including: jazz, classical, military, folk, country, and rock by hands-on play with percussion instruments.
Participants learn the “alphabet” of African hand drums that form basic sounds to create the language of drums. Participants then learn to play traditional patterns used to communicate using these sounds and learn about African culture and how significant it is to the daily life of its people.
Participants take part in a series of fast-paced comedy skits involving unusual characters and wacky stories. Every student has at least one opportunity to perform in front of the group. Participants develop self-confidence and comic timing as well as strengthen cooperation and listening skills.
This workshop of theatre games, improvisation, storytelling, and movement stimulates imagination and encourages creativity both vocally and physically. From pantomime to team-building exercises, participants learn skills and techniques used by professional actors and storytellers.
Drama activities excite imaginations of participants as a foundation for further exploration. Participants listen to a story, discuss elements and themes of the tale, and explore the story through movement and voice. Choose from:
• Greek Mythology
• Folk, Fairy, and Animal Tales
“All the world’s a stage!” Participants explore Shakespeare’s world in this acting workshop that combines literature with the performing arts. Fun tongue twisters from Hamlet, fairy scenes from A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, and acting games give participants a brief look at this famous playwright. Discover creative Shakespearean phrases and ease the understanding of Shakespeare’s dialogue through a trivia game and original comedic radio play based on six of Shakespeare’s works.
Learn how actors create those stage and scene battles without pain!Students learn the simple terms and techniques for basic hand-to-hand stage combat, as well as introductory fencing techniques.
These one hour-long, “assembly-style” performance events offer an entertaining arts experience for large groups. They require a minimum audience of 75-150 students. Flat rate pricing applies.
This vibrant and energetic performance, based on the traditions of West Africa, takes the audience on a rhythmical journey from Africa to the New World and back to Africa. The intensity and dynamics of the music the ensemble plays gave the ensemble its name. “Kusogea” is a word in Ki-Swahili that means “to move.” “Nobi'' is a word indigenous to the world that means “people.” Kusogea Nobi moves people—it is virtually impossible to remain still when experiencing this style of music.
The sound of an authentic Taiko drum leads this exploration through Japanese culture. Costumes, Japanese folktales, percussion instruments, and the booming Taiko drum come together to immerse students in ancient Japanese art forms.
Yesterado is a one hour long performance featuring a light-hearted glimpse at Colorado history. Real-life traveling entertainers Jack Langrishe and Marietta Ravel are reimagined as a sort of goofy, time-travel welcome wagon committee, taking you back in time and giving you a glimpse of Colorado in the 1890s. To deepen your students’ learning, please ask about accompanying workshops that complement Yesterado.
Participants explore rhythm and music while developing gross motor skills in this fun and up-beat workshop. Participants find ways to express themselves through music and speak through movement.
Award winning performance Artist Lorenzo J. Ramirez, Artistic Director of Grupo Folklórico Sabor Latino, takes students on a journey back to ancient Mexico to experience the traditions, history and splendor of the Azteca people. Presented in full elaborate ceremonial uniform with natural instruments, Lorenzo provides participants with an engaging, interactive and educational experience of this unique indigenous culture.
Matinee performances specifically for high school students are held on Thursdays at 10:30 am. The rate is $14 per student and chaperone with teachers free of charge.
Available student matinees for our 2022 Black Box Repertory Theatre season:
3/24, 4/21
3/31, 4/7, 4/28
4/14, 5/5
Please contact Julie Payne, Theatre Education Coordinator, to book a student matinee for your high school! By email: Julie Payne - jpayne@arvadacenter.org.
Virtual Arts Day workshops, held via Zoom, are ideal for homeschoolers,distance learners, "pandemic pods", and traditional K-12 educators seeking supplemental arts programming. These interactive workshops provide creative arts enrichment through real-time instruction led by Arvada Center teaching artists. Workshops are available in dance, drama, and visual arts for Pre-K through 12 grade and can be customized to fit your students' needs. Read through the workshops we're offering for the 2021-2022 school year! You can also download a PDF with this information at the link below.
To request a workshop for your group of students, please fill out the Virtual School Programs Interest form.
Participants gain a deeper understanding of the master artist by exploring some of Pablo Picasso’s cubist portraits. Students then create large paper masks with abstract and exaggerated features, combing Picasso’s style with their own creativity.
(ECE-1st grade students) Students explore two of Kandinsky’s painting styles through drawing to music and collaged circles.
Drawing inspiration from traditional fabric molas, students will create their own by using paper and layering techniques.
Colorado’s amazing landscapes and rock formations become the backdrop to this workshop. Students will tear and layer papers to create a different type of landscape representation.
Students can bring an animal of their choosing to life! Paper collage and folding will allow students to explore a variety of mediums while creating their own puppet.
Participants take part in a series of fast-paced comedy skits involving unusual characters and wacky stories. Every student has a least one opportunity to perform in front of the group. Participants develop self-confidence and comic timing as well as strengthen cooperation and listening skills.
In this fun workshop that incorporates drama and literacy, students create and perform short scenes based on common stories or poems. As the children work together in small groups, they learn about teamwork, the creative dramatic process, and how to engage more completely when reading out loud.
Drama activities excite the imaginations of participants as a foundation for further exploration. Participants listen to a story, discuss elements and themes of the tale, and explore the story through movement and voice. Choose from: Greek Mythology or Folk, Fairy, and Animal Tales.
“All the world’s a stage!” Participants explore Shakespeare’s world in this acting workshop that combines literature with the performing arts. Fun tongue twisters from Hamlet, fairy scenes from A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, and acting games give participants a brief look at this famous playwright. Discover creative Shakespearean phrases and ease the understanding of Shakespeare’s dialogue through a trivia game and original comedic radio play based on six of Shakespeare’s works.
Participants explore rhythm and music while developing gross motor skills in this fun and upbeat workshop. Participants find ways to express themselves through music and speak through movement.