ESSA’s Young Artist Program: Investing in Creativity Through Youth Arts Education
About ESSA’s Young Artist Program
At ESSA, we believe access to hands-on arts education should begin early. ESSA’s Young Artist Program creates meaningful creative experiences for students by partnering with local area schools and welcoming young people into ESSA’s studios for guided, hands-on workshops.
While most ESSA workshops are designed for adults ages 18 and up, the Young Artist Program is a dedicated exception. It allows ESSA to extend its educational mission to younger students through carefully structured, age-appropriate programming led by experienced instructors.
Expanding What Is Possible for Young Artists
Many of the experiences offered through the Young Artist Program are not available on school campuses. Through ESSA, students explore disciplines such as Metalsmithing, Stained Glass, Blacksmithing, Ceramics, and Printmaking in a setting that allows for focused learning and experimentation.
These workshops often introduce students to creative practices they have never encountered before and spark a deeper interest in the arts. For some students, this is their first time working with copper, glass, or forging tools. For others, it is a chance to return and build on skills discovered during an earlier ESSA workshop.
Learning in ESSA’s Studios
Throughout 2025, ESSA welcomed students from Eureka Springs High School and Clear Spring School to our campus for ten Young Artist Program workshops, all held inside ESSA’s studios. Bringing students into these working spaces gave them hands-on access to tools, materials, and environments that are rarely available in a traditional school setting.
For many students, simply stepping into ESSA’s studios was an experience in itself. Learning in the same spaces used by practicing artists offered a new way of thinking about what art can be and who it is for. These workshops were not just about learning a single skill, but about building confidence, fostering curiosity, and opening creative doors.
Small Moments, Big Impact
Some of the most meaningful parts of ESSA’s Young Artist Program happen in moments that cannot be planned. During Brynna Mollahan’s Intro to Small Metals workshop in April, a foreign exchange student worked alongside local students, sharing in the experience of learning a new craft together. In the Clear Springs School Stained Glass two-day workshop taught by Stacie Primeaux, students took full ownership of their projects by designing their own pieces and creating original patterns before cutting and assembling glass.
In Brynna’s Copper Cuff workshops with Clear Springs School, several students returned after recently participating in an ESSA Stained Glass workshop, bringing a level of curiosity and enthusiasm that energized the studio. For Brynna, working with students she had known since they were very young and seeing them return for more ESSA experiences was a powerful reminder of how lasting these connections can be.
The Intro to Blacksmithing workshops marked the first time Shane Capps and Hugh Deaver taught and co-taught youth classes. The students’ engagement made a strong impression, and the experience was so rewarding that both instructors have expressed interest in teaching youth again in 2026. Printmaking workshops brought a different kind of energy, embracing the messiness of the process and creating an atmosphere of shared discovery for students and instructors alike.
Supporting the Next Generation of Artists
Programs like ESSA’s Young Artist Program are made possible through community support. Donations help cover materials, instruction, and outreach so that schools and students can participate in these experiences.
If you believe in the importance of arts education and want to support opportunities for young artists, we invite you to donate to ESSA’s Young Artist Program.
To learn more about ESSA, its transformative programs, or how you can help foster creativity, visit essa-art.org, sign up for our mailing list, or follow us on social media:
Media Inquiries
For more information about ESSA’s Young Artist Program, interview requests, or access to photos and additional materials, please contact:
Chrissie Heavenridge
Email: marketing@essa-art.org
Phone: (479) 253-5384
Website: essa-art.org
Thank you for helping us share the story of how community support is shaping the future of the arts.
About ESSA
ESSA is a nonprofit art school in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, offering hands-on classes and workshops for adults ages 18 and up, along with youth education through its Young Artist Program. Through studio-based learning and community partnerships, ESSA expands access to arts education while fostering creativity, skill-building, and meaningful connection through the arts.
