Youth Art Program
The Sonoran Arts League is committed to advancing art and art education, with a special focus on mentoring youth with the belief that arts training helps develop the abilities to focus and strengthens cognitive skills in young people. The Sonoran Arts League fosters artistic growth in the following ways:
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS – Since 2003, the Sonoran Arts League has recognized the artistic abilities of young artists and awarded scholarships to graduating seniors from local high schools pursuing studies in the arts.
INCENTIVE AWARDS – The Sonoran Arts League recognizes schoolchildren who show exceptional interest in art and awards them with incentive bags filled with art books and supplies at the annual Celebration of Art at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center.
Celebration of Art
The Celebration of Art, is an annual public presentation and recognition of aspiring young artists which has become a significant tradition in the Cave Creek community. Its origin was in the “Jeff Cross Memorial” – as it was then called which took place in the very early 1980’s. It was presented by the Cave Creek Craft Council (the forerunner of the Sonoran Arts League), and paid tribute to Jeff Cross, who had played a crucial role in the creation of the Craft Council. This memorial arts show was initiated and funded by the Cross family and Harmony Hollow Bell Works, in memory of the “Folk Bell Founder of Cave Creek.” It is not happenstance that a bell of Jeff’s own design with “JEFF CROSS MADE ME” cast into its bronze is the grand prize of the Celebration of Art, in continuance of the practice begun over four decades ago. Its ringing gives voice to the success and promise of the premier artist in this annual arts competition.
Robin Ray, an art teacher in Cave Creek schools, organized and oversaw this annual memorial for decades, under the auspices of the school system. Through her dedication and admirable efforts, the event thrived, grew, and matured into today’s Celebration of Art.
For over 40 years, the Cross family and Harmony Hollow Bell Works have funded and facilitated this wonderful community affair; many of these years, they were the sole funders. Fortunately, over the decades, a growing number of helpers and promoters have lent their support, including Kiwanis Club of Carefree and Lori and Steve Greenberg. This is a development the Crosses are very pleased to see.
The Celebration of Art takes place every Spring at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center.
Youth Art Classes
Learn to create. Explore ideas, techniques, and mediums with various subject matter. Classes, Workshops, and Art Camps are open to grades K-12.
Adventures in Art – Weekend Workshops for grades 3-8: These workshops are two hours long and are held on either a Saturday or Sunday.
Artistic Journey – Intensive Classes for grades 7-12: Classes are given in a series of four, two-hour blocks once a week after school.
Summer Arts Camp 2023 for grades K-8: Camps are held during the summer. Each camp is fours days long, two hours each day.
Hidden In The Hills – Youth Art Studio 1
Discover and support youth artists at Studio 1 during the “Hidden In The Hills Artist Studio Tour”. Talented, hardworking local students will showcase their artwork all six days of the tour. Youth Art at Studio 1 has been a part of Hidden In The Hills for the past 25 years and offers a fun glimpse into these talented youth. Painters, sculptors and mixed media artists from grades 6-12 will be exhibiting, demonstrating and selling their artwork. Get in on the ground floor before their careers and art soars. You can say you have known and collected them since the start.
For more information on student participation at Studio 1, please contact Robin Ray, Youth Art Chair, at 480-567-4197.
Art Education and Program Support
The Youth Art program is generously supported by the Kiwanis Club of Carefree Benefit Foundation.
