Arts Inspire Workshop & Exhibit Series

In 2012, PCA restructured our Arts Inspire initiative to pair Charlottesville-area artists with under-served K-12 youth for short-term, hands-on workshops in a variety of arts genres.

During an annual Call for Submissions, artists are invited to submit proposals for workshop curriculum within his or her artistic genre, in response to a given creative prompt. A community panel then selects proposals based on appropriateness and feasibility of workshop, artist’s past experience with youth, artistic excellence of work samples, quality of response to the creative prompt, and other criteria as defined by PCA staff. Each selected artist or multi-artist project will receive a stipend and logistical support from PCA to host their proposed workshop. Artwork created during workshops is then featured in exhibitions at the CitySpace Gallery.

For more information about the 2013 Arts Inspire Workshop & Exhibit Series, please contact Sarah Lawson.


The 2012 Arts Inspire theme aligned with the City of Charlottesville’s “Celebrate250!” program and artists were asked to submit proposals in response to the creative prompt, “Telling Charlottesville’s Stories.” PCA received over 30 proposals from local artists and a panel selected the following four workshops:

  • “Nature Sculptures” with Patrick Costello
  • “Telling Charlottesville’s Stories Through Artistic Maps” with Lisa Kimball
  • “Dancing My Charlottesville Story” with the Terra Dance Project
  • “Local Hero Portraits” with Julia Hauser

Patrick Costello’s “Nature Sculptures” workshop provided a hands-on sculptural experience for youth from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge. It began with an introduction to the work of Andy Goldsworthy and other artists working with natural materials, a brainstorming and sketching session, time to gather materials and explore Lee Park, and the creation of ephemeral sculptures constructed from blossoms, twigs, and other found materials. Costello is a Charlottesville artists and was an Artist-in-Residence at The Haven.

Lisa Kimball’s “Telling Charlottesville’s Stories Through Artistic Maps” workshop led Charlottesville Parks & Recreation youth in an exploration of collage and drawing to make personal geographies.

Terra Dance Project led the “Dancing My Charlottesville Story” workshop for youth from the Crozet PARC & Piedmont Family YMCA to interpret the concept of “home” through improvisational dance.

In “Local Hero Portraits” with Julia Hauser, youth from Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries used figure drawing to re-imagine someone in their real life as a superhero.

Additional Arts Inspire workshops partnered youth from the Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries with the Charlottesville Photography Initiative, as well as youth from the Southwood Boys & Girls Club with local artist Ebony Walden of the Poetic Justice Project.

This project was funded by the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the CACF, and was promoted in 2012 as part of Charlottesville’s year-long “Celebrate250!” campaign