Now 12, Libby has been coming to artsPlace since she was three years old. So often, in fact, that staff have teased about setting up a bed in the building just for her. If that ever happens, she already knows where she’d sleep: the ceramics studio. With its big windows, bright open layout, and seemingly endless supply of clay, it’s her favourite place to be.
Of all the classes Libby has taken at artsPlace—printmaking, painting, drama, poetry, and songwriting—ceramics is the one she keeps coming back to. She especially loves working on the wheel, even though she’s quick to admit it’s the hardest part. With clay, she can make something entirely her own. After all, as Libby puts it, store-bought plates are “kind of boring.”
When Libby was little, her parents, America and Andres, were looking for an affordable, accessible, and age-appropriate activity for their young daughter. At the time, artsPlace was one of the few places that fit.
“Back then, there was nothing for children that young to do,” says America. “artsPlace had just started offering Family Sunday artsPlay, so we would come as a family and do projects. That’s one of the very first things we were able to do for her.”
Over time, artsPlace became a place their family could return to again and again; a place where Libby could bring her full self—her bold creativity, boundless energy, and vivid imagination—and know there was room for all of it.
“[artsPlace is] comfortable for us because we know many of the people here and they know us,” says America. “We feel like a part of a family here.”
For America, the impact of artsPlace goes far beyond the art Libby brings home. Over the years, she’s watched her daughter grow in confidence, focus, and trust in her own abilities.
“All the influence this place has had on my kid is making her grow so much in so many other aspects,” she says. “I believe it is helping with her self-esteem and helping her grow as a person.”
That growth shows up in small but meaningful ways. America recalls a drawing class in which Libby was the only student who could get the perspective right. Before long, other kids were asking her for help. When asked how that made her feel, Libby says, “Good, because I knew how to do it!”
Libby’s story is a reminder that every child deserves a place to be themselves, try something new, and discover what they have to offer. For many families in the Bow Valley, access to that kind of experience is becoming harder to afford.
That’s why the Discover Art Fund matters. By supporting free and low-cost programming, outreach initiatives, and subsidies for low-income individuals and families, the Discover Art Fund helps remove barriers that prevent children, youth, and families from participating in the arts.
