Creativity will shine bright at AFLI 65th anniversary & open house celebration

Submitted

Creativity in all its shapes, sounds, and forms will reign supreme on Saturday, June 27 when Arts for Learning Indiana (AFLI) celebrates 65 years of providing youth arts education throughout the state with a community open house at its brand-new home, 3328 E. 10th St., Indianapolis, along the newly designated East 10th Street Emerging Arts District corridor.

This free, family-friendly event, presented by Glick Philanthropies, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To better facilitate the festival atmosphere, East 10th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic in front of AFLI headquarters during the open house, enabling activities to expand to both the north and south sides of 10th Street.

While the event location isn’t in Hamilton County, the organization’s impact most assuredly is:  26 AFLI workshops were held at Hamilton County sites over the past year (including Oak Trace Elementary, Woodbrook Elementary, Hamilton East Public Library) plus programs at numerous schools and Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Boone County.

“As we open the doors to our new home, we’re also opening doors of opportunity for thousands of young people across Indiana,” said Arts for Learning Indiana president & CEO Anya Aslanova. “Our open house is a glimpse into a future where every student has access to creative, engaging learning experiences that help them thrive in school and in life.”

Open house guests will enjoy musical performances, hands-on art-making stations, exhibitions of artwork by current students, alumni and AFLI’s stable of Teaching Artists, public mural creation, sidewalk art, and more. Among Teaching Artists scheduled to participate are Cathy Morris, Village of Stories, Squirrel Butter, Beatriz Vasquez, Jingo de la Rosa, Theon Lee, Matt Deloughery, and Omar Rashan. Emcee for the Garden Performance Area is AFLI board member Leonard Patterson, founder and frontman of the popular Indy band Living Proof.

Among additional activities planned are:

• Hands-on creative endeavors for all ages including make your own notebook covers and shadow puppets, contribute your artistic flair to sidewalk chalk art or help create a permanent public mural on the building.
• Photo booth selfie zone.
• Installation of the inaugural Arts for Learning Indiana Art Supplies Box. Patterned after the familiar Little Free Libraries, the AFLI creation will be filled with a wide and ever-changing variety of art supplies, free and available for the taking. The organization plans to build and install art supply boxes at locations throughout Central Indiana.
• Register-to-win the Kate Appel Celebration Prize. Named in honor of the visionary Arts for Learning Indiana board member, guests will be invited to sign up for the chance to win a creative gift of art activities and supplies to spark imagination at home, and to nominate a school to receive a voucher for a free Arts for Learning performance.

“Kate is a leader whose generosity has always been rooted in action and community,” Aslanova said, “and we’re carrying her spirit forward as she retires from our board by sharing the gift of the arts with the community at our open house.”

Several performances will take place during the celebration at Holy Ground Productions, across 10th Street from the Arts for Learning building, and three food trucks will be on-site serving a variety of food and beverage for purchase: Allen’s Extreme Hot Dogs & Nachos, The Grub House, and Little Bugs Sweets.

The open house will be held rain or shine. Free parking will be available at IPS’ Brookside School, 3150 E. 10th St., or curbside throughout the area. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating comfort during outdoor performances.

Event sponsors include Glick Philanthropies, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, John Boner Neighborhood Centers, Audrey’s Place Furniture, and 1000 Words Gallery.

Founded in 1961, Arts for Learning Indiana – originally known as Young Audiences – is the premier provider of arts education programs for youth throughout the state. AFLI partners with schools, libraries, parks and other community organizations to deliver an estimated 40,000 hours of high-quality arts education experiences annually. Its more than 70 professional Teaching Artists present vibrant performances, hands-on workshops and in-depth residencies throughout Indiana. AFLI also supports educators through professional development that helps integrate the arts into diverse learning environments in powerful and practical ways.

“As we mark 65 years of transforming lives through the arts, our open house celebrates both our history and the bright future we’re building for students across Indiana,” Aslanova said. “This event brings our mission to life, showcasing how access to the arts ignites learning, builds confidence and truly changes lives.”

For more information about Arts for Learning Indiana and the June 27 65th Anniversary Celebration & Open House, visit artsforlearningindiana.org.