webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date June 12, 2014
Hosted by: Infopeople, an ELF 2.0 Webinar
Length: 1 hour

  • Struggling to infuse creativity into a cramped, quiet or quirky space?
  • Tired of following powerful literature with cookie cutter crafts?
  • Confounded by events attended by children 2 to 18 years old?
  • Think you have to be an artist to engage children in the arts?

As an institution, the library has the power to teach families the joy and meaning derived from the creative process. Yet, too often, after a powerful story, we shut down the opportunity for authentic, individual responses by asking children to mass produce popsicle stick protagonists or glue soaked story props.

Library staff and parents often feel inadequate as artists and pass along their hang ups by safety proofing crafts or spending loads of money for professional artists to lead the workshop. In this webinar, we will rethink what it means to engage children and their families in creativity as we explore play based and process art. You will leave with very concrete ideas about designing a space and an approach that nurtures the artist in each child. As the sole access point to the arts for many families, libraries are a key force in ensuring every child can engage with the world as a creator.

Presented by: Bridget Alexander