March 10, 2021 at 4:58 p.m.
Old School Arts & Learning Center stays connected with creative community in the midst of COVID-19
Old School Arts & Learning Center stays connected with creative community in the midst of COVID-19
By Stephanie Kuski-
"By nature, personally, I'm an arts and crafts-based person, so I'm drawn to kids and people who like to do that," Perreault explained. "I felt like there was a gap in that... So I decided to start my own after-school program."
In order to expand her business later on, Perreault collaborated with colleagues to collect art supplies, and eventually, she started hosting groups of children and adults interested in art.
In 2018, Perreault moved the Old School Arts & Learning Center from the Curran building to Riverview Hall, where she had more room to provide childcare as well as arts programming.
Later, Perreault was working with a colleague affiliated with ArtStart on an altered book project for youth that blossomed into the TGI ArtFriday kids' art classes offered at ArtStart. During those Friday classes, instructors would lead young artists through the galleries at ArtStart and then the children were instructed to create an art project from the inspiration in the galleries. As part of that collaboration, Perreault hosted open art time after school on Wednesdays for those participating youth to create art of any kind.
Although neither the TGI ArtFriday nor the Wednesday open art classes are offered at this time, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Perreault said the goal is to get those kids' art programs up and running again when it is safe to do so.
In the meantime, Perreault is working to solidify upcoming programming for both children and adult crafters.
As a result of financial uncertainty precipitated by the pandemic, as well as an inability to provide childcare at the height of COVID-19, Perreault made the decision to move Old School back to its original home at the Curran building last summer.
She noted grant money provided by the We're All In small business grant program allowed her to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. But when she reopens for in-person programs, she said she's not planning to provide childcare at this time and will instead focus on providing community art programs.
"This business is going to continue as more of an arts-based program," Perreault said. "Those are some things I'm working on, but I don't want to start it until I really am ready."
"We're in the process of transitioning," she continued. "People have been saying it's a tough year, and yeah, it has been... If it wasn't for the grant money, I wouldn't be here at all. So that's really gotten me through."
Over the summer, Perreault relocated to a room on the second floor of the Curran building but she also hopes to acquire space downstairs next to the community room to provide even more space for crafters, especially during this time of social distancing.
Perreault noted that space for individuals to create art in an open studio context is lacking in our community, so she hopes to provide that for those interested in using her studio space. She has lots of materials and supplies for different crafting and art projects, and even at this time while Old School remains closed due to the pandemic, she said interested individuals or small groups can utilize her space and materials.
"The space is available," she said, "so if there's somebody that has a small group that wants to do cardmaking, paper crafting, those kinds of things, they can contact me and set up a day and time."
As an artist herself, Perreault is also intimately involved in the local arts community, which has been blossoming year after year in our community. She is a basket weaver, fiber artist and paper crafter who also invites those interested in teaching art classes later in the year to submit proposals in order to coordinate those classes so they are ready to go when it becomes safe to host in-person classes again.
Now that she's not doing childcare anymore, Perreault said she has also had more time to do outreach with local groups to stay connected to the local arts community during this time.
"I'm not working with kids, but I want to stay connected to kids," she said. "I know there's a need for the kind of things I'd like to offer to kids, so I can find other ways to do that."
Perreault has been working with the Rhinelander District Library during their virtual story time and is also helping to organize their virtual Crafternoon projects. In addition, Perreault is collaborating with Oneida County 4-H to provide youth with art supplies during the Community Roots program, an art and garden series offered at the Northwoods Community Garden this spring that will run through the fall.
"I think this is very exciting," she said in regard to the Community Roots program. "Gardening is a wonderful thing for kids and so is art."
In an effort to provide art supplies to area youth in need during this time of virtual learning, Perreault has also partnered with the School District of Rhinelander to provide art kits to students who are in need of art supplies and who have a passion for art. Perreault is working alongside art teacher Ingrid Bodensteiner to provide 25 elementary students with basic art supplies like crayons, pencils, erasers and notebooks as well as coloring sheets, puzzles and other games.
Perreault said she hopes to continue donating art kits to area students in need and she also hopes to customize those kits based on the children's age and gender.
"I can still feel a sense of gratification that I'm doing something for kids even though they're not here with me," she said.
Although much of Perreault's typical offerings are still on hold due to the ongoing pandemic, she said her goal is to offer in-person programs come summer, provided it's safe to do so given the state of COVID-19 at that time.
For more information about summer art offerings, follow Old School Arts & Learning Center on Facebook. To propose art classes or to inquire further about using her studio space, contact Perreault by emailing [email protected] or calling (715) 420-0300.
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