As
the Cayman Islands continues its phased re-opening, and following on
from their busy virtual education programme during lockdown, the
National Gallery of the Cayman Islands announces a digital Summer of
Art programme for kids and families. The three-part programme is
designed to be followed in its entirety or used on virtual ‘drop
in’ basis for flexibility and is available at no cost to the
community.

Weekly
Virtual Art Classes Led by Local Artists

In
July and August 2020, the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands’
presents free digital art classes for a range of student age groups.
The series of virtual art lessons, presented as both pre-recorded
videos and live Zoom classes, is developed and taught by local
artists and NGCI staff, allowing student viewers to learn techniques
while expanding their understanding of the Cayman Islands’ artist
community. Videos are uploaded to the National
Gallery blog
every Thursday morning throughout July and August; registration for
Zoom workshops is by emailing education@nationalgallery.org.ky.
Confirmed sessions to date include:

Parents &
Preschoolers: Tuke the Specialist Turtle Story & Craft

Thursday 9
July, 10:00am (via NGCI's Blog) -
NGCI's
staff does story time with a virtual reading of "Tuke the
Specialist Turtle", followed by a themed craft session with
materials you can find at home. This is a great summer activity for
the little ones
in your life!
Visit
the NGCI blog for the full video on 9
July. 

Creating
Unique Landscapes with Joseph Betty

Thursday 16
July, 10:00am (via NGCI's Blog) - Learn to create unique landscapes
that re-envision the environment with local artist Joseph Betty.
Recommended for teens and older. Visit the NGCI blog for the full
video on 16
July 2020.

Transfer
Printing with Sarah McDougall

Thursday 23
July, 10:00am (via NGCI's Blog)
- Take
a transfer printing class with local artist Sarah McDougall. This
workshop is appropriate for middle school through high school
students.
Visit
the NGCI blog for the full video on 23
July 2020.

Mixed
Media Zoom Class with Sarah McDougall

Thursday
30 July, 2:00pm-3:00pm (via Zoom – pre-registration required)
- Learn
to create a layered, nature-themed mixed media artwork with local
artist Sarah McDougall. This Zoom workshop is appropriate for middle
school through high school students.
To
register and receive webinar login information, email
education@nationalgallery.org.ky. 

Unscramble
Me: Surrealist Art Class with Gordon Solomon

Thursday
August 6, 3:00pm-5:00pm (via Zoom – pre-registration required) -
Join
Gordon Solomon as he leads you through creating your own Surrealist
art that intertwines graphic art with figures and landscapes. Learn
how to turn small-scale sketches into to large-scale black and white
images on canvas.
This workshop is inspired Solomon's painting entitled "This Is
Us" (2019), and on his
current series "Unscramble Me".
To
register and receive webinar login information, email
education@nationalgallery.org.ky. 

Painting
Zoom Class with Sarah McDougall

Thursday 13
August, 2:00pm-3:00pm (via Zoom – pre-registration required)
- Follow
along with this Zoom painting class led by Sarah McDougall.
To
register and receive webinar login information, email
education@nationalgallery.org.ky. 

"Cyclists"
Mixed Media Art Class with John Broad

August 20,
10:00am-11:00am (via
Zoom – pre-registration required) -
Join
John Broad for a workshop inspired by his series of "Cyclist"
paintings. Participants can follow along with John in their choice of
medium, from acrylic paint to graphite pencils, charcoal or
pastels. To register and receive webinar login information,
email education@nationalgallery.org.ky.

Stay
tuned to NGCI’s What’s
On website page
and social media pages for more classes.

Kids
Cine Club

In
addition to the above line-up of online art classes, this summer sees
the virtual re-launch of NGCI’s Kids Cine Club, a programme
originally launched in 2011 that allows guests to enjoy educational
and art-related films, from animation to nature documentaries. As a
digital programme, 2020’s Cine Club will provide participants with
access to free short films as well as follow-up resources to expand
learning and engagement after viewing. Films and resources will be
posted to NGCI’s social media and blog. Pre-registration for this
programme is not required.

Family
Tours of NGCI Exhibitions and Collections

Though
large group tours and onsite workshops remain suspended throughout
the summer, NGCI encourages families and small groups (of eight
maximum) to schedule tours of the new National Collection exhibition
Saltwater
in Their Veins,
which explores Cayman’s maritime history and evolving relationship
to the ocean through the works of 45 local artists; as well as the
current temporary exhibitions, Island
of Women: Life at Home During Our Maritime Years
and Bendel
Hydes Acquisitions,
both of which has extended its run until the end of August 2020. The
National Gallery Gift Shop is also open and it’s a great place to
find art supplies and other fun craft and art activity packs for
those ling summer days.

For
more information about the digital programme, or to book an onsite
visit, please email education@nationalgallery.org.ky
or call us on (345) 945 8111.

Word
count: 803

END
#####

About
the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands

Established
in 1996, the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) is the
country’s leading visual arts museum and education centre, charged
with promoting and encouraging the appreciation and practice of the
visual arts in the Cayman Islands. This mission is achieved through
exhibitions, education/outreach programmes, school tours, community
festivals, and ongoing research projects. Holding up to six
exhibitions annually at our central exhibition space, and satellite
venues around Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands, the curatorial
team strives to create a balance between exhibitions of quality
Caymanian artwork with art from further afield. This is achieved by
working with a broad cross-section of artists and ranging from
site-specific work to more traditional gallery-based projects.

NGCI
is at the forefront of visual arts education in the Cayman Islands
hosting 25+ education and outreach programmes monthly, across all
three islands. These programmes aim to capture every age group in our
community from the youngest pre-schoolers to senior citizens, in
addition to marginalized members of our community. They combine arts
education with enriching creative experiences which foster
creativity, help build self-esteem, and provide effective and
invaluable explorations of culture, cultural heritage, national
identity and community values.