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The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, with a $2,500 grant for arts programming received from the Shallowford Ford Foundation, is offering storytelling and creative arts classes through December at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center in Lewisville.
Photo courtesy of the Arts Council
These three community resources worked together to provide free, accessible programs that will delight and entertain families. There will be free storytelling performances and family art classes with teaching artists every third Saturday through December. In addition, free arts classes are offered with Marlene Kuser every third Thursday from September through December.
See the Schedule below and register quickly here, as space is limited. All classes will be held at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center, 440 Lewisville Clemmons Road, Lewisville, NC.
Schedule Of Free Classes At Mary Alice Warren Community Center
Classes Every Third Saturday Through December
- August 16
- 10:30-11:30am – Ciltona Cawthorne – Storytelling
- 12:00-3:00pm – Phoebe Roberts – Sankofa and Sunflowers
- September 20
- 10:30-11:30am – Bob Moyer – Storytelling
- 12:00-3:00pm – Monica Douglas – Textured Landscape Painting
- October 18
- 10:30-11:30am – Ed Robson – Storytelling
- 12:00-3:00pm – Issis Kelly – Marbled Pumpkins
- November 15
- 10:30-11:30am – Ed Robson – Storytelling
- 12:00-3:00pm – Je’wel Lucas – Mixed Media Self Portraits
- December 20
- 10:30-11:30am – RV Kuser – Storytelling
- 12:00-3:00pm – Marlene Kuser – Memory Wire Bracelets
Classes With Marlene Kuser, Every Third Thursday, September Through December
- September 16 – Memory Wire Bracelet
- October 6 -Polymer Clay Pens
- November 20 – Gemstone Bonsai Tree
- December 18 – Earring Basics
Local Resources Enriching Our Community
We’re fortunate to have organizations like the Mary Alice Warren Community Center, the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, and the Shallowford Ford Foundation. Their support for arts and culture provides residents with opportunities to engage, learn, and connect through creative experiences. Learn more about these resources:
What Is The Mary Alice Warren Community Center?
The Mary Alice Warren Community Center was named after Mary Alice Warren, a resident who grew up in Lewisville on a farm located on that property. She and her mother decided to donate 30 acres to the town, including the 15-acre multi-use Jack Warren Park located next to the center, as well as the property on which the community center was built. Warren, at 100 years old, was onsite in 2021 to help cut the ribbon for the opening of the Mary Alice Warren Community Center.
The Mary Alice Warren Community Center has a mission: “to nurture a sense of community belonging by providing facilities, programs, educational classes, activities, and events primarily designed to enhance the lives of Lewisville and neighboring area residents and their families.” The 12,000 square foot center has a huge conference room that can be divided into three smaller rooms. It also has a catering kitchen, a small conference room, an arts and crafts room, a large atrium area with a fireplace, and a large covered porch with a fireplace. Nonprofits receiving grants from the Shallowford Ford Foundation must present the programs at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center, coordinating with the center on the days and times. Learn more about the Mary Alice Warren Community Center by visiting their Website.
Who Is The Arts Council Of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County?
The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is the first and oldest Arts Council in the nation. They are a pioneer and chief advocate of the arts and culture in our area, offering many opportunities for artists and art organizations, and grant funding to provide programs and events for residents at low or no cost.
An example of the grants provided by the Arts Council is:
- Arts for Everybody Grants support inclusive, artist-led, community projects that foster wellbeing and access to the arts
- Arts-In-Education Grants connect artists and art organizations with elementary, middle, and high school students by funding programs designed to awaken their intellectual and creative curiosity
- Multicultural Grassroots Grants provide programming support to organizations demonstrating artistic excellence and a mission that reflects African American, Asian American, Latin American, or Native American cultures
In addition to funding and supporting artists and art and cultural organizations, the Art Council produces and curates programs, events, and arts experiences for the community. For example:
- Operating the Main Gallery, featuring 5 or 6 exhibitions a year, and the Associated Artists Gallery, for juried works by members of the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, it is a “canvas of the community.” Both are located at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 215 N Spruce Street, Winston-Salem
- Hosts the Parks Concert Series, a series of free outdoor musical performances held at Tanglewood and Triad Parks, featuring local and national artists along with community art activities
- Operates the Community Arts Gift Shop, also located at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, which showcases and sells locally made arts and crafts to support artists
- Offers Mary Alice Warren Community Center Classes, including free family art drop-in and affordable art programs, in Lewisville
Learn more about The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County by visiting their Website.
What Is The Shallowford Ford Foundation, And What Do They Do?
The Shallowford Ford Foundation is a community-focused, philanthropic organization that connects people and resources in ways that transform communities by providing access, opportunity, and an enriched quality of life for all residents.
Each year, the Shallowford Ford Foundation offers nonprofits three grant opportunities. This year’s grants are:
- Clemmons-Lewisville Grants – These grants are given to nonprofits to provide solutions to unmet community needs in Clemmons and Lewisville, raise organizational capacity, strengthen a sense of community, and have an end goal to become self-sufficient. The foundation will fund new programs or projects, as well as the expansion or continuation of existing programs or projects. Some of the recipients of the grants are:
- Children’s Law Center of Central NC – Funding for the Custody Advocacy Program in Forsyth County, providing a voice for vulnerable children in court proceedings by advocating for their best interests
- Community Care Center of Forsyth County – Funding for the dental hygiene program to provide regular dental visits and care in the community where resources are limited
- Financial Pathways of the Piedmont – Funding for financial counseling and in-home bill pay services for seniors
- Historic Nissen House – Support for the house as a regional history center for the Lewisville area, focusing on 18th and 19th century local history. The center will offer tours, educational programs, Victorian-life presentations, and cultural events to community members of all ages
- Mary Alice Warren Community Center Programming Grants – These grants support nonprofit organizations to provide affordable and accessible programs at the center that enhance the lives of residents. The programs can be a one-time event or a series, and they can require a fee or be free. The nonprofit must supply all the materials for the programs and a plan for promoting the event. Some of the recipients of the grants are:
- Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County – The schedule of programs they are offering is listed above and is free of charge
- Associate Artists of Winston-Salem – Artists will offer a workshop series of educational classes that encourage exploration and foster community
- Mujer Valiosa Community – Book club and journaling program aimed at adults and young adults. This program stands out for its bilingual literacy and creativity
- Piedmont Opera – Operalite Program to help the community learn more about opera in a relaxed environment
- Salem Band – A program offering a beginner swing dance lesson with dance instructors and music by Salem Swing Band
- Shore Community Grants – Funded by the Wayne A Shore Endowment Fund and designed to fund impactful projects and initiatives that enhance the lives and communities in Yadkin County
The Shallowford Ford Foundation also supports students through its Annual Scholarship Program for high school seniors and adult students seeking financial assistance in completing academic and vocational degrees or certificates.
In addition, The Shallowford Ford Foundation works as a partner with many organizations, schools, and community leaders on a variety of Initiatives designed to transform and enhance the lives of residents in the communities it serves. They include:
- Child Care Initiative
- Bingham Art Series
- Yadkin County Education Foundation
- Tools For Trade
Learn more about The Shallowford Ford Foundation by visiting their Website.
Where Learning Meets Adventure In Winston-Salem
If you and your kids are seeking fun, excitement, and adventure, you will want to visit Kaleideum, the Winston-Salem children’s museum that has something for everyone of all ages. Offering hands-on, minds-on experiences, kids never knew learning could be so much fun. Exhibits include Wonders Of Water, By Design, Digital Dome & Planetarium, and Rooftop Adventure Zone. See our article about Kaleideum to learn more, and check out our Events Calendar for “Kaleideum After Dark” events for adults!
Have you attended programs at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center? Tell us about it in the comments.
