Adult and Teen Classes

Welcome to AVA’s 2024 Classes!

AVA Members receive 10% off most classes!

Most classes are for students 16 and older.
All welding classes are for students 18 and older.
Financial Assistance is available for all classes.
Class Information & ScheduleClass ImageClass Medium, Level, & PriceClass DescriptionRegistration

Composition Outside the Box: Collage and Assemblage 
JANE DAVIES

Saturday and Sunday, May 4 & 5

9:30 am-4:30 pm

Davies-Jane-collage-16x9-600px

Mixed media

for Continuing/Intermediate Students

$500*

Click here for a class materials list

Cropping a piece is sometimes a tempting way to ‘resolve’ it - just lop off the part that isn’t working, and the rest of it is a finished piece. But have you considered adding onto a piece? Or starting with no substrate at all? Assembling collage materials without a substrate (they attach to each other) allows you to compose from a different point of view. Add, subtract, overlap, glue, tear, and stitch your materials together into surprising works of art!

This class is for reasonably experienced artists. You must have work you can discard and plenty of collage paper. If you feel stuck and need a new direction, this class is likely to shake something loose. Bring LOTS of material for collage and at least half a dozen works on paper that you can discard.

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Daytime Open Studios

Wednesdays, Jan 10-Mar 27

9 am-12 pm

open studio drawing

Drawing Open Studio

for Continuing and Advanced students

$275* / $25 per individual session

Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. 

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Evening Open Studios

Wednesdays, Jan 10-Mar 27

No Evening Open Studio March 13

 

5:30-8:30 pm

open studio drawing

No Evening Open Studio March 13
Drawing Open Studio

for Continuing and Advanced students

$275* / $25 per individual session

Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. 

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Daytime Open Studios

Wednesdays, April 3-June 12

9 am-12 pm

open studio drawing

Drawing Open Studio

for Continuing and Advanced students

$250* / $25 per individual session

Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. 

Register Now

Evening Open Studios

Wednesdays, April 3-June 12

5:30-8:30 pm

open studio drawing

Drawing Open Studio

for Continuing and Advanced students

$250* / $25 per individual session

Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. 

Register Now

Hand-building with Clay
KÄRIN ROTHWELL

Fridays, April 5-June 7 (no class April 19 & 26)

10 am-1 pm

clay hand-building ceramics

Clay

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$475* / $75 Materials Fee

Possibility comes to fruition as you and your hands learn how to move and manipulate clay without the use of a wheel. Hand-building means constructing with coils and slabs of clay, pinching and 'modeling'-- techniques used since antiquity in every corner of the earth. Both functional pieces and works of art will be ready to glaze and take home at the end of the session.  Each class starts with a demonstration and group time, then students may turn to individual work on independent projects, open to your own expression and whim. Spring is here! Bird baths, houses and feeders are popular items. Build boxes, trays and vases. You take it from there! Surface decoration will also be addressed, using slips and underglazes followed by finished glaze techniques. Open to all skill levels. Please bring a notebook dedicated to ceramics.

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Hand-building with Clay
KÄRIN ROTHWELL

Wednesdays, April 10-June 5 (no class April 24)

6-8:30 pm

clay hand-building ceramics

Clay

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$475* / $75 Materials Fee

Possibility comes to fruition as you and your hands learn how to move and manipulate clay without the use of a wheel. Hand-building means constructing with coils and slabs of clay, pinching and 'modeling'-- techniques used since antiquity in every corner of the earth. Both functional pieces and works of art will be ready to glaze and take home at the end of the session.  Each class starts with a demonstration and group time, then students may turn to individual work on independent projects, open to your own expression and whim. Spring is here! Bird baths, houses and feeders are popular items. Build boxes, trays and vases. You take it from there! Surface decoration will also be addressed, using slips and underglazes followed by finished glaze techniques. Open to all skill levels. Please bring a notebook dedicated to ceramics.

Register Now

Continuing Pottery
ARA CARDEW

Wednesdays, April 10-May 29

6-8:30 pm

pottery-16x9

Clay

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$420* / $75 Materials Fee

Learn to center clay on the potters wheel, make mugs, bowls, pitchers, casseroles and much more. If you are a beginner or more advanced you will enjoy the clay experience. Acquire the skills of throwing, trimming, making handles, glazing and kiln firing.

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Metalsmithing: Shell Forming and Sculpture 
ROFF HARROFF

Wednesdays, April 10-May 29

5:30-8:30 pm

roff-shell-16x9

Metal

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$500* / $90Materials Fee

In this class you'll learn about Synclastic Shell Forming and how to use it in sculpture. With Shell Forming an artist forms non-ferrous (without iron) sheet metal into three dimensional forms using metal, wood and plastic tools. Students will learn how to safely use metalsmithing to make their own shells and tools, while getting exposed to the history of the medium. This is a great class for both new and experienced metalsmiths.

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Continuing Pottery
SAMANTHA RADCLIFFE

Thursdays, April 11-May 30

9:30 am-12 pm

pottery-16x9

Clay

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$420* / $75 Materials Fee

An introduction to the potter's wheel, developing the fundamental skills of centering, throwing, and shaping clay. An opportunity for artists of all types to understand and incorporate this traditional and powerful tool into their work.

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Wheel & Hand: Ceramics in Motion
SAMANTHA RADCLIFFE

Thursdays, April 11-May 30

5:30-8:30 pm

clay ceramics wheel

Clay

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$500* / $75 Materials Fee

In this class you'll have the freedom to move from potter's wheel to hand-building with clay, and back. Students will be inspired by each other while working in under the guidance of an experienced teacher. If you are a hand-builder that wants to learn to throw, or a wheel thrower who wants to add hand-building to their toolbox, this is the class for you. And if you don't know what you want to try, or you want to push your skills further, you can muddy your hands in both.

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Introduction to Woodworking: Bandsaw Boxes Big and Small
DAVE SHINNLINGER

Thursdays, April 11-May 9

5:30-8:30 pm

shinnlinger boxes wood

Wood

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$315* / $90 Materials Fee

This course will allow the participant to use some of the power tools in the AVA woodshop to create a “bandsaw box” the participant gets to take home. If time and interest allow, a wooden knob can be turned on a lathe to accent the box and additional bandsaw boxes crafted as well. This class is ideal for beginners, anyone interested in the subject matter, or getting to know the AVA woodshop.

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The Cutting Edge: Stained Glass with Copper Foil
STEPHANIE GORDON AND SUE MARTIN

Sat & Sun, April 13-14

10 am-4 pm

gordon martin stained glass

Glass / Metal

$300* / $75 Materials Fee

In this weekend workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of stained glass panel design, glass cutting, and the copper foil construction method developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany to get a complete introduction to this exciting medium. You will learn about safety and how to create a pattern, choose glass, cut, foil, assemble, solder and patina to complete your own small stained glass panel in this fun beginner class. No experience is needed. Tools and materials will be supplied. Bring your own apron. Wear shoes with closed toes and comfortable working clothes. 

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Basic Drawing
DARYL SETICHIK

Mondays, April 15-May 20

6-8:30 pm

daryl seitchik drawing egg

Drawing

$315* 

Click here for a class materials list

 In this class you'll learn 4 basic drawing techniques to improve your drawing abilities while embracing process and conquering the fear of a white page. You'll learn measuring techniques to train your eye and draw with accuracy; discuss the characteristics that make up a good composition and point of view with the help of a viewfinder; learn to use positive and negative space to improve accuracy and relative proportions; and explore the many ways to shade and use lines.  This class is inspired by the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards. For Adults, Teens (16 and up), and teachers interested in Professional Development. Beginners welcome; no drawing experience necessary. 

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Comics for Teens and Adults
DARYL SETICHIK

Tuesdays, April 16-May 21

5:30-8 pm

Seitchik comicsclass Small-16x9

Drawing / Comics

$315* 

Click here for a class materials list

In this class you'll learn the basics of cartooning, and how to tell stories through your drawings. The class will cover the fundamentals of making comics, including character design and backgrounds, story structure and pacing, and the nuts and bolts of laying out a comics page.  You will learn and take inspiration from cartoonists throughout history and from all over the world, and experiment with different drawing tools to help find your own unique line, style, and voice. Most importantly, you'll have fun!

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Introduction to Wood Carving and Whittling
ANTON PRIKAZCHIKOV 

Wednesdays, April 17-June 26 (no class May 1)

6-8 pm

wood-carving-16x9

Wood

$420*  / $85 Materials Fee

This 10-week workshop will introduce you to woodcarving and carving safety. You'll make everything from wooden spoons to small animals while you learn basic techniques like stop cutpush cut, and draw cut. This is a great way to get both your hands and creative energies moving while learning something new.

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Sculptural Knitting
RACHEL MONTROY

Saturday, April 20

10 am-4 pm

knitting montroy sculpture

Fiber Arts

$125* 

Using basic knitting stitches, learn how to knit in three dimensions! Participants will begin the day by knitting a mushroom and then work on their own project with a variety of provided patterns. No prior knitting experience is necessary, but this is a great class for anyone excited to tackle some challenging designs. The instructor will be in touch before the workshop about which knitting needles and yarn participants will need to bring to the class.

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Beginning & Continuing Watercolor: Beautiful Brushwork
JOAN HOFFMANN

Wednesdays, May 1-22

6-8:30 pm

hoffmann flowers painting

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$210*

Click here for a class materials list

Begin your watercolor journey or continue beyond the basics! Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each session. In this class there will be an emphasis on creating beautiful brushwork. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome.

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Beginning & Continuing Watercolor: Beautiful Brushwork
JOAN HOFFMANN

Fridays, May 3-24

9:30 am-12 pm

hoffmann flowers painting

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$210*

Click here for a class materials list

Begin your watercolor journey or continue beyond the basics! Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each session. In this class there will be an emphasis on creating beautiful brushwork. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome.

Register Now

Soft Sculpture
RACHEL MONTROY

Thursdays, May 9-30

6-8 pm

montroy soft sculpture

Fiber Arts

$170* / $12 Materials Fee

Explore the world of soft sculpture by experimenting with a different material each week. The materials that you'll explore in this class will include fabric, wool, paper, and more! No prior experience required, but more advanced techniques will be introduced for those with some knowledge of soft sculpture techniques.

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Introduction to Welding
IAN BLACKMER

new dates: Fridays, May 10-June 28

5-8 pm

Wedling

Metal

for Beginning Students

$525* / $75 Materials Fee

Learn to select, measure, mark, cut and prepare mild steel for welding, then join the pieces together through the Metal Inert Gas (MIG) wire feed welding process. During this eight week course students will become familiarized with working safely in an industrial shop setting. Students will learn and practice basic wire feed welding techniques as well as hand and power tool operation and apply those newly learned skills to the creative process.

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Sketchbook Plein Air with Watercolors
JENNIFER BROWN

Tuesdays, May 14-June 11

10 am-12 pm

brown neighborhood landscape watercolor

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$210

Click here for a class Materials List

Get ready to take your sketchbook along with you this summer. In this class - weather permitting - you'll walk to nearby spots near AVA and draw and paint from life using a variety of approaches in pen and ink, pencil, and watercolor. Make sure to wear good shoes!

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Hot Wax: An Introduction to Encaustic Painting 
STEPHANIE GORDON

Saturday & Sunday, June 1 & 2

10 am-4 pm

gordon encaustic

Painting / Encaustic

for Beginning & Continuing students

$250 / $90 Materials Fee

Encaustic is an ancient method of painting with hot wax that results in luminous, layered works of art. Learn to choose appropriate work surfaces, application of pigment and medium, mix colors, fuse layers and create texture. Image transfer, stencils and collaging will be included. 

This class is for reasonably experienced artists. You must have work you can discard and plenty of collage paper. If you feel stuck and need a new direction, this class is likely to shake something loose. Bring LOTS of material for collage and at least half a dozen works on paper that you can discard. 

Register Now

Beginning & Continuing Watercolor: Satisfying Compositions
JOAN HOFFMANN

Wednesdays, June 12-July 3

6-8:30 pm

hoffmann composition watercolor

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$210*

Click here for a class materials list

Begin your watercolor journey or continue beyond the basics! Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each session. In this class there will be an emphasis on creating satisfying compositions. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome. 

Register Now

Still Lifes in Oils or Acrylics
SUSAN GRAY BÉ

Mondays, June 24-Aug 12

5:30-8 pm

gray be still life flower oil acrylic

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$420*

Click here for a class materials list

Using oil or acrylic, learn the fundamentals of painting, from organizing a palette and blending, color mixing, brushwork, and glazing techniques to the elements of design and composition. All levels are welcome, especially beginners.  Students may choose to use either Oil or Acrylic paint. 

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Expressive Portraiture in Oils or Acrylic
SUSAN GRAY BÉ

Tuesdays, June 25-Aug 13

5:30-8 pm

Gray Be Portrait oil Acrylic

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$420*

Click here for a class materials list

Aesthetic expression emerges as compositions in Oil or Acrylic evolve, and no matter how realistic, a painting needs to work at an abstract level. In this class you’ll be encouraged to balance your painting compositions in terms of abstract art elements on each layer of the painting - especially at the beginning and end of the process. Your compositions will evolve and be refined with contrasting color, tone, and line.  Beginning and more Advanced painters are welcome: Beginners will be given extra attention on the first day and beyond; Advanced artists will be encouraged to develop their visual ideas, improve technique, and to experiment with paint application. Students may choose to use either Oil or Acrylic paint. 

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MORE INFORMATION

AVA Faculty

Derek Bell received his BFA in Painting in 2008 from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Painting and spent three of his years there as a Teaching Assistant. As a painter, Derek prefers landscape, portraiture, and animals, as well as an occasional still life. Since graduating from RISD, Derek has worked primarily in oils, watercolor, gouache, and more recently egg tempera. https://www.instagram.com/perfectpoultryportraits/

Jennifer Brown began her art career at a young age making woodblock prints in her family kitchen. She majored in Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University and earned a degree in art and education from Vermont College as a parent and working adult. Most recently she has taken painting and printmaking workshops at Art New England in Bennington, VT, as well as continuing to study oil painting with painter, Peter Granucci. She uses watercolor and gouache to explore nature, landscapes, and figures in the landscape.

Cooper Dodds is a photographer and book artist living in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He received a BFA from Carleton College in 2013. His first monograph, Jumper: Flying in the Heartland, was published by Daylight Books in 2019. Cooper has a decade of experience working as a commercial photographer and he currently balances his time between commissions, personal work, and teaching.

Amber Geneva Erkiletian received her BFA at the School of the Art Institute, Chicago where she gained a passion for working in large-scale steel sculpture. Her curiosity about the range of materials available for sculpture caused her to pursue diverse fields that feed her professional development and her application of technical knowledge. Amber’s experience ranges from casting aluminum and bronze for art and industry to fine woodworking and fiberglass construction to refining microscopic precision components for the Mars mission. As an artist, Amber is drawn to the minute subtleties of expression in human body language. Her art practice uses welded steel and Pal Tiya Premium, a unique sculpting cement, to create chimerical animal sculptures for outdoor installation. As an independent art teacher, Amber considers it her mission to ensure that everyone who wants to make sculpture can, at any scale and for any environment. For more information about Amber, please visit her website.

Fred Faudie works out of his studio in Norwich, Vermont where he lives with his wife and teenage son who share his painting, photography, and design studio: SeeingMind. He has exhibited his drawings, prints, and paintings in numerous juried shows across the country, including having his work accepted to group and one-person exhibitions in Washington, D.C., Andover, Massachusetts, Boston, and New York City. He is a Professor Emeritus with the Art Department of the University of Massachusetts Lowell where he taught studio courses for thirty-four years. During his tenure there he taught basic, intermediate, and advanced studio courses, various art history courses, set up several analog darkrooms, and taught the first computer art course. He was a key player in developing their accredited B.A. and B.F.A. degrees. Fred Faudie holds an A.B. in Art History from Cornell University, an M.A. in painting from the University of Iowa; participated in post-graduate studies in photography at the University of Iowa, and holds an M.F.A. in Illustration from Syracuse University.

Nick Gaffney received his M.F.A. in Fine Arts/Photography from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, in 2002. Since then he has taught Photography, Studio Art, and Digital Media at various places. He has exhibited his photography throughout the country, including solo shows at AVA and the Vermont Center for Photography, in Brattleboro, VT. He is currently on the board of the Vermont Center for Photography and is also a member of the Lebanon Arts and Culture Commission. He lives in Lebanon with his wife, two daughters, and dog Ruby. ngaffney.net

At the age of eight, Olivia Janna Genereaux took her first after-school art class painting. She learned to paint from life and to mix colors. She loved the control of building her world and found her place. She chose to attend Rhode Island School of Design, where she studied textiles and illustration, majored in painting, and graduated in 1986. Four decades later in 2014, she earned a Master’s Degree from Lesley University, College of Art and Design. Her love of art is a gift she gives to herself and shares with others every day.

Stephanie Gordon received her BFA from the University of Michigan. Stephanie taught art at Hanover High School for 18 years before retiring. She currently teaches community art classes for adults and teens. Stephanie has most recently been making encaustic paintings. She exhibits work locally and regionally and her art is in many private collections. sbgordonart.com

Joan Hoffmann paints impressionistic oil and watercolor landscapes and birds in plein air. She is dedicated to painting, teaching, and preserving the wild landscapes that she explores. Joan lectures on the History of American Landscape Painting, National Parks, Public Lands, and the Art of Landscape and teaches and exhibits her work in UT, CO, CA, and at her studio in South Royalton. www.joanhoffmann.com

Mike Howat is a New Hampshire-based painter and printmaker. His work explores themes of urbanization, Americana, and collective memory. Since earning his B.F.A. from the New Hampshire Institute of Art in 2014, he has been actively engaged in the growing New England art scene. He exhibits regularly with Kelley Stelling Contemporary and Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden and has shown with Chase’s Garage, Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, and Nahcotta, among others. He is the current artist-in-residence at Kimball Jenkins School of Art, where he teaches classes and workshops in painting, printmaking, and drawing. mikehowat.com

Michael Kraatz holds a BS in Art from the University of Wisconsin and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has been a roster artist with the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for many years, completing numerous Arts in Education residencies in public schools. He works in 2-D and 3-D and is particularly known for his blown glass. Kraatz’s work has been shown nationally and regionally, including at AVA. www.kraatzrussell.com

Maggie mayfly Kundtz Joseph: Visual artist; AVA studio tenant since 2013; AVA instructor.  Strives to nurture & empower young and old in the creative process.  Earned a BFA from the University of Michigan in painting & photography; Master’s in photography from Maine Media College.  Early life, worked in the gallery/ museum arena and NYC photography scene; Currently, immersed in art making and raising a family.  Created the artist persona, mayfly, to better embody the ideas of ephemerality and transformation in her art. Read more about Maggie mayfly Kundtz Joseph’s life and work here.

Sue Martin majored in art at a teacher training college in Ripon, Yorkshire, England. Currently retired as a classroom and reading teacher, she has time to rekindle and expand her artistic interests to include stained glass. She finds great delight in incorporating found objects into her work and she has exhibited her stained glass panels, in the Upper Valley.

Chris McGrody has been building custom furniture and handcrafted cabinetry professionally in his shop for 15 years. Before starting his shop, Chris worked for several years at a local furniture studio building high-end traditional Shaker furniture. While working there as a craftsman, he also ran the workshop program and taught week-long and weekend workshop courses. Chris also instructs regularly at the Dartmouth College Student Woodshop. Chris enjoys passing along his knowledge of woodworking through project-based classes. www.chrismcgrody.com

Robert O’Brien received his BA from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo and has worked in watercolor for 40 years. Since moving to Vermont in 1977, he has focused his work on the landscape and architecture of New England. He studied with James Whatford, Tony Couch, and Marshall Joyce. He is a member of many watercolor societies and has won numerous awards. www.robertjobrien.com

Tracy Penfield has a history with AVA going back to 1985. She exhibited her fiber art, taught and modeled at AVA until founding SafeArt in 2000, based in Chelsea VT, where she resides. She passed SafeArt on to the next generation in 2020 and has a private practice in trauma healing at the Center for Integrative Health in Hanover and in Chelsea. She is also a dancer and the Artistic Director of the Passing Project: www.passingproject.org.     Kärin Rothwell became a student of clay under the tutelage of Karen Williamson at the Davidson Pottery at Dartmouth College in 1981, followed by post-grad classes at UNH and workshops at Haystack Mountain School in Maine and ‘Phoenix’ with Gerry Williams in Goffstown. Surrounded by the rich history of strong clay cultures while living in the Middle East, Holland, Spain, and Mexico in her early years led to her desire for personal exploration in the medium. Kärin was a teacher/trainer at Dartmouth for many years and began the children’s program at the League of NH Craftsmen in 1984.

Meredith Smith holds a BFA and MAT from the Rhode Island School of Design and did postgraduate study in costume and theater design at Brown University. She has worked as a costume and jewelry designer, college professor, and owner of a London-based clothing company. Meredith is a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen.

Teaching and Modeling at AVA

Modeling: If you are interested in modeling for art classes at AVA (clothed or unclothed), please contact our Education Manager, Nick Gaffney, at nick@avagallery.org.

Teaching: AVA is always interested in learning more about creative educational experiences for our community. If you are interested in teaching a workshop at AVA, please email nick@avagallery.org.

Financial Assistance

Legacies Live On

Thanks to the generosity of family and friends of prominent past AVA supporters, AVA is honored to offer financial assistance to mitigate the cost of classes and workshops.

Click here to apply for Financial Assistance.

AVA Financial Assistance Fund

The AVA Financial Assistance Fund provides eligible individuals of all ages and abilities with tuition assistance in any of AVA’s art camps, educational workshops, or outreach programming. Funds donated for financial assistance but not specifically directed to the Al Quirk or Aya Itagaki funds are allocated to this fund. Click here to donate to the AVA Financial Assistance fund.

Al Quirk Financial Assistance Fund

The Alfred T. Quirk Senior Student Financial Assistance Fund was established to support seniors (60 and over) in their artistic endeavors. After his retirement from a thirty year career at Dartmouth College, Al Quirk began a new calling as a watercolor artist, taking classes at AVA and eventually serving on AVA’s Board of Directors. Recognizing the significance art and AVA played in Al’s later life, eligible seniors can apply for financial assistance for any AVA class or workshop.

Aya Itagaki Financial Assistance Fund

The Aya Itagaki Financial assistance Fund provides eligible individuals of all ages and abilities with tuition assistance at either AVA or the Okinawan Karate Academy. Aya was an AVA founding member, artist, teacher and AVA board member for over four decades. Her family established this fund to continue her legacy of support. Applicants may receive financial assistance toward classes at either AVA or the Okinawan Karate Academy.

All financial assistance funds help provide creative opportunities for those who would otherwise not be able to participate due to financial concerns. Contributions can be made to any of these funds by phone (603) 448-3117, online by clicking here, or by mail: AVA Gallery and Art Center, 11 Bank Street, Lebanon, NH 03766.