Education

Since 2002, MFTA has offered professional development workshops to New York City educators, artists, therapists, after-school teachers, senior care providers and parents. What initially started off as one workshop a month has now grown into a full blown education program with weekly workshops, a cluster of talented teaching artists, a soon-to-be completed Reuse Education Center with two permanent workshop studios and thousands of people educated in the areas of reuse, waste reduction and the arts.

All of Materials for the Arts workshops include an Instructor led demonstration, hands-on work time and post discussion/brainstorming for project application within participants' instructional settings.

This Summer MFTA will be offering two "P-Credit" classes

Registration with credit is handled by the After School Professional Development Program's website and begins on June 2, 2009 at 4pm http://schools.nyc.gov/teachers/aspdp .  DOE teachers not seeking P-Credits and other arts educators can register for a limited number of seats on our website. Click here for non-credit registration. Classes are outlined below.

Creative Infusion: Art + Reuse in the Classroom, covers the Art of Reuse, Mobiles & Windchimes; Games & Game Boards; Intro to Bookmaking; Flag Books & Pop-ups; Hard Cover Books; Hatmaking; Masks; No-Sew Costumes; Intro to Puppets and Shadow Puppets. Section 1: July 6-10, Section 2: July13-17, Section 3: July 20-24  

Raw Fibers: The Art of Fabric will work out the historical, economic, scientific, social and mathematical properties that are inherent in the use of fabric and its production; all through hands-on art making. Sessions will include the spinning of raw fibers, weaving, printing on fabrics and batiking. Section 1: July 27-31, Section 2: August 3-7

Materials for the Arts has been a wonderful resource for our school, for the past several years. Our new Arts Teacher went on a "shopping spree" at MFTA and came back excited about the treasures she had acquired. Throughout the year she has used them to develop amazing creative projects support and extend our curriculum. Two and three dimensional projects are hanging from walls and ceilings everywhere, as a testimonial to the benefit of MFTA. Recently, members of our Parents' Association went to the MFTA warehouse on our behalf, to gather supplies to be used during the day and also for special parents and children arts projects after school and in the evening. Thank you, MFTA for providing and maintaining such a wonderful free resource. Thanks, as well, to the generous sponsors and donors who enable MFTA to exist. In these days of ever-tightening budgets, we sincerely appreciate your vital contribution to our school arts program. Many thanks.
-Ronnie Feder (Principal, P.S.101Q "The School in the Gardens")