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From children's art classes to regional art exhibitions and public sculptures, the Prairie Arts Center is gearing up for a busy summer season in North Platte.
Executive Director Holly Carlini said the center continues to focus on making art accessible to all ages, starting with classes designed for some of the community's youngest artists.
Children as young as 4 years old can participate in weekly art classes that introduce a variety of artistic techniques and materials. The goal, Carlini said, is to expose children to different forms of creative expression while allowing them to explore what interests them most.
Projects range from painting and paper collage to sculpture and mixed-media work. Older students can also participate in more immersive classes that introduce techniques often used in adult workshops.
"We start as early as four, and it's just a great 45 minutes, an hour chance to really let them get their hands dirty," Carlini said.
Carlini noted that art education offers benefits beyond creativity, helping children develop fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities and confidence through hands-on experiences.
The Prairie Arts Center also offers classes for adults throughout the year. Popular programs include pottery wheel instruction, clay slab workshops and specialty classes such as mosaic birdbath projects. One recent birdbath workshop partnered with Bedrock Concrete, which provided the concrete forms that participants transformed into decorative mosaic pieces.
Additional classes are expected to be announced throughout the remainder of the year.
Another major event on the center's calendar is the NebraskaLand Days Competitive Art Show. The annual exhibition features artwork inspired by western themes, wildlife and landscapes while showcasing artists from Nebraska and neighboring states.
Carlini said the exhibit regularly attracts submissions from artists across the region, including Colorado and Kansas, creating a diverse display of talent.
Visitors can expect to see paintings, photography, pottery, sculpture and bronze works throughout the exhibit. Many of the pieces are also available for purchase.
"It's just an incredible array of talent really," Carlini said. "You'll be blown away when you walk in."
The center is also encouraging residents to explore North Platte's public art through this year's Sculpture Walk. New sculptures were installed in May and feature artists from across the United States and Canada.
Several pieces are interactive, allowing visitors to engage directly with the artwork. QR codes located on the sculptures provide access to a self-guided tour that includes information about the artists and locations of murals throughout the community.
"It's a great time to get outside and view public art," Carlini said.
Information about classes, events, the NebraskaLand Days Competitive Art Show and the Sculpture Walk is available through the Prairie Arts Center.