Outreach

Virtual Art Makes You Smart!

Our AMYS Videos series is based on the Bartlett Center’s ART MAKES YOU SMART (AMYS) program. This program takes art and artists into Muscogee County Schools, teaching the basics of art to school children. Inspired by the 2013 study by University of Arkansas social scientists Jay P. Greene, Brian Kisida, and Daniel H. Bowen, the program’s goal is to foster critical thinking, encourage human empathy, and inspire creativity.

AMYS is a Partners in Education, Partners at Large Program in collaboration with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Muscogee County School District students. AMYS is a program, which brings professional artists and BBC Artist Board members to the classroom to lead students in creative exploration. All video segments are available now to MCSD, online, free of charge.

Watch the videos!

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Bo Bartlett Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Bo Bartlett Keywords (PDF)

Suzanne Fine Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Suzanne Fine Keywords (PDF)

Betsy Eby Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Betsy Eby Keywords (PDF)

Tony Pettis Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Tony Pettis Keywords (PDF)

Gloria Mani Video - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center
See the vocabulary words for the video above here: Gloria Mani Keywords (PDF)

Home Is Where the Art Is

Home Is Where The Art Is (HIWTAI) is an outreach program in Columbus, Georgia. Its purpose is focused on the shared passion for art and a shared belief in its ability to change lives. HIWTAI began as a venue in which local artists and volunteers could provide assistance to individuals in the homeless community with creating their own artworks. The program is now a collaborative effort between SafeHouse Ministries at Rose Hill United Methodist Church and the Bo Bartlett Center. Through this collaboration, the impact on lives extends to the workshops with individuals in the homeless community. Inspiration and mentoring is available as local artists volunteer for the program and assist attendees.

Media coverage: Electric City Life, The Ledger Enquirer video and article.

View our slideshow

K.I.D.S Workshop

Virtual Drawing Together Videos

Family Art Workshops for children ages 4+ with a caregiver

Made possible by The Bo Bartlett Center’s partnership with VIRTUAL DRAWING TOGETHER, Family Art Workshops designed by K.I.D.S. Art Education Teaching Artists, a program of Kentler International Drawing Space in Brooklyn, New York

Through these videos, children and families will create fluid drawings, often inspired by music

Join Teaching Artist Victoria Calabro for a workshop based on the work of Flatfiles artist Abby Goldstein! Families will create fluid drawings inspired by music. Send a photo of your finished project to us at bobartlettcenter@columbussstate.edu or tag us on social media:

Instagram: @bobartlettcenter | Facebook: The Bo Bartlett Center

We hope you’ll enjoy this time together. Take a moment to explore, and remember to keep drawing!

Complete List of Videos

smudge scratch mix paint styles

Kindness Through Art

Kindess Through Art is an outreach program of the Bo Bartlett Center designed to show compassion and attention to underprivileged children (ages up to 15 years old) residing in Columbus area shelters. Each child receives an “Art Bag” filled with crayons, pencils, Bartlett Center coloring books, watercolor sets, washable markers, stickers, play–dough, etc., and a stuffed animal to cuddle. The program’s primary goals are to promote the many benefits of art, build confidence in the minds of the child while they have fun learning, and provide some relief to struggling parents in the shelters.

To donate to this program online via card ($20 per gift bag), head to our Donation Page, select “Kindness Through Art” in the drop down menu, and put the name and address of the honoree you would like to dedicate your gift to in the comments below. We will mail your honoree a card letting them know they have had a gift made in their honor. Your contribution is incredibly helpful in supporting this program.

To learn more about our work with Valley Rescue Mission Women and Children’s shelter, click here!

Art Makes You Smart!

The Bo Bartlett Center Art Makes You Smart! program takes art and artists into select Muscogee County Schools teaching the basic principals of art. Inspired by the 2013 study by University of Arkansas social scientists Jay P. Greene, Brian Kisida and Daniel H. Bowen, the program’s goal is to foster critical thinking, encourage human empathy and inspire creativity.

AMYS is a Partners in Education, Partners at Large Program collaboration with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the students of the Muscogee County School District. AMYS is a 4 part program held over 4 weeks, which brings professional artists and BBC Artist Board members to the classroom to lead students in creative exploration.

Artists/volunteers demonstrate and students participate in drawing and painting sessions. Classes include a 4-part series: “Art Tells a Story,” the story of Bo and his life in Columbus, his art studies and paintings, led by Suzanne Fine; “Drawing Sessions with Bo Bartlett;” “Painting Bartlett Pears” on canvas with acrylics, led by Gloria Mani; commencing with Tours of Bo and Betsy’s Studios and the Bo Bartlett Center.

Highlights: Art Makes You Smart received the distinction of the PIE/Chamber of Commerce Partners at Large Award in 2016.

The first AMYS exhibition included the drawings and paintings of over 200 students and was held at the RiverCenter in April the same year. Participating Schools: Downtown Elementary, Kendrick High School, and South Columbus Elementary.

Goals of the program: Inspire creative and critical thinking, drawing and painting skills learned from the discussions with and demonstrations by artists at work.

Class ratio: 3-5 Committee members to 35 students.

The Education Value of Field Trips

Science Says Art Will Make Your Kids Better Thinkers

Watch the Videos!

Bo Bartlett - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center

Suzanne Fine - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center

Betsy Eby - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center

Tony Pettis - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center

Gloria Mani - Art Makes You Smart - Bo Bartlett Center

Artistic Ability

Artistic Ability is art-based programming for disabled adults, ages 18 to 70, held in collaboration with New Horizons Behavioral Health at the Columbus Service Center, a day center, located at 2401 Buena Vista Road, Columbus. The curriculum for AA was originally designed and led by Geri Davis, BAA, Auburn University, and trained volunteers. This volunteer team has been together since the program started. The class/volunteer ratio is one to one.

Goals of the program: Introduce creativity, develop eye-hand coordination skills and special abilities, gain recognition and confidence through joy driven hands-on painting projects, and promote happiness.

Art In Jail

Art in Jail is an art based ministry to men incarcerated in the Muscogee County Jail. Art in Jail was founded by Bo Bartlett as an extension of Home Is Where The Art Is and in collaboration with the Chattahoochee Valley Jail Ministries and Chaplain of Muscogee County Jail, Neil Richardson.

Goals of the Program: Develop a creative outlet for personal expression, increase self-esteem, and provide a positive and constructive experience in each class session. Bo: “Art can play a significant role in their rehabilitation. The ability to draw is highly prized in prisons, inmates are asked to do portraits and design tattoos.”

Check out this in-depth Ledger-Enquirer article by Chuck Williams about Art in Jail!