The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) continues to advance its mission to integrate art into the lives of people with a longstanding partnership with Mercy Health. Together, they provide enriching educational opportunities that extend beyond the Museum, including summer programs at Grace Community Center and weekly classes for youth and adults at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library Kent branch.
Image courtesy of the Toledo Museum of Art.
“The Toledo Museum of Art is committed to making art accessible to anyone. This means extending the efforts beyond the Museum and bringing art into the community,” said Adam Levine, the Toledo Museum of Art’s Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey director. “Mercy Health’s support has been pivotal to the success of many of the Museum’s community outreach programs that encourage learning and creativity for art enthusiasts of all ages. The Toledo Museum of Art strives to become the model art museum in the country for our culture of belonging, and this partnership with Mercy Health furthers that goal.”
“Knowing that art fosters healing and mental well-being, Mercy Health is excited to be involved with a program that brings inspiration and appreciation regularly to our area residents, especially our youth,” said Bob Baxter, president, Mercy Health – Toledo. “We are not only proud to be a sponsor of TMA’s community art outreach programming, but we are also pleased once again to be working closely with our partner, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. Together, we are bringing something special to the residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the museum.”
Collaborating with Mercy Health has enhanced the Museum’s efforts to creatively foster a sense of belonging for everyone. In the weekly after-school art classes at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library Kent branch led by TMA teaching artists, K-12 students benefit from instruction in drawing, painting, mixed media, water marbling as well as other STEAM activities. The classes offer participants a safe space to creatively express themselves while enjoying museum-quality artmaking instruction.
During Grace Community Center’s summer EDU-CAMP, TMA’s teaching artists worked with youth in grades Pre-K-8. Students enrolled in the STEM-focused enrichment program spent time each week engaged in hands-on art projects using color theory with model magic and rock painting and produced designs for three newly painted benches, a redesigned Habitat for Humanity playhouse and two raised garden beds.
During the summer of 2022, TMA artists and nearly 120 youth worked together to paint two large pergolas and a brick masonry wash station at Grace Community Center with the support of Mercy Health. TMA and Mercy Health also partnered to bring the Museum’s Art Out of School Program to 102 youth at Wayman D. Palmer Community YMCA. Participants enjoyed art activities during hot lunch distributions over six weeks.