The Aimee Keene Artisan Center is a non-profit Center where people of all ages and incomes will be able to take classes in the visual arts nearly free of charge. The classes will be taught initially by myself, Aimee Keene, an established self-taught artist, but have also attended Savannah College of Art & Design with a concentration in Product Design, and Michelle Johnson our Vice President and independent artist. We will be receiving volunteer help by other area artists who specialize in different areas of visual art. My specialty is working with Pastels and doing animal portraits, but I will also hold basic classes in Acrylic painting, pencil drawing, and pen & ink. I will have a basic black & white photography class including a dark room with all appropriate equipment to teach how to develop ones own photographs. I will have basic sculpture and pottery classes available as well.
The Center will also have space available for "struggling"artists who do not have a studio of their own to work in, to be able to bring their projects in and use this space on a daily basis (not long term), to help them get themselves "off-the-ground" and on their way to getting their own studios. There will be a gallery in the Center where "students/artists" can place their art on display and their contact information will be available for the public. We will also hold juried events for the participants of the classes as well.
It is possible that in the future the Center will try to accomodate the "students/artists" by providing a small store within the Center that will allow them to purchase art supplies at a discounted price from the Center, it is our goal to have some of these supplies be donated to the Center Store.
All supplies needed for the classes taken will be provided free of charge to those enrolled in the class. If they wish to purchase supplies outside of what is needed for the class, they can purchase them outside of the Center or if we have our Store they can purchase them from that.
The Board of Directors are:
Aimee Keene - President/Founder
· Is a seasoned artist of 15 plus years specializing in Pastel drawing and other “traditional” forms of visual art, and attended Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA. Her major was in Product Design. She is currently enrolled at New Hampshire Institute of Art to complete her BFA and has changed her major to Fine Arts with a concentration in Art Education. She will be using the knowledge gained at Savannah College of Art & Design in Product Design to introduce its basic concepts to those interested in gaining knowledge in this area of visual art. She will be teaching most of the classes at the Center until other area artists are found to volunteer their expertise to teach. She also has some experience in her own personal business to manage Marketing of the Center and will be organizing and arranging events for the Center.
Shawn Dube - Treasurer
· Is currently a Sales Manager for Staples, working in the Hooksett, NH location and has just received his Assocaites in Business Management. He will bring his Business Management knowledge with him to the Center and help us utilize the best tools to be proficient and efficient in running the Center. He also has some experience in performing arts, as he is currently in a band and plays multiple instruments. This may provide for an opportunity to integrate some performing arts specialties to the Center in the future.
Anne Flynn - Public Relations
· Has received her Assocaites in Social Sciences from Southern New Hampshire University, and is a Nurses Assistant at Concord Regional Hospital. She is from Germany and brings a multi-cultural experience to the Board. Her knowledge in Social Sciences will help in understanding the community better and enhance our abilities to effectively “reach out” to the community as well as help to assist in multi-cultural activities that will help to bring these differences together in harmony at the Center.
Marissa Maitland - Secretary
· Is currently attending New Hampshire Institute of Art striving for her BFA in Painting. She is a great joy to have on our team and is extremely enthusiastic about our success. She will eventually become the Executive Director of the Center when we are able to be at a financial place to hire her for this position.