Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
WBCA reached more than 33,000 people through arts classes, community outreach, and events. WBCA offered approximately 900 high quality art classes, all taught by professional artists and available for all experience levels and ages. Class registrations have increased by 82% since 2013.
WBCA hosted 8 exhibitions in 2016. All exhibitions were free and open to the public six days and three evenings per week.
WBCA’s community outreach programs reach thousands of children and adults who might otherwise lack access to the arts. The Arts in Elementary program serves 4,000 children grades K-5 in the White Bear Lake Area Schools. Each student receives six art experiences per year from WBCA teaching artists.
WBCA served approximately 75 children from low-income families at Solid Ground, a White Bear Lake transitional housing community for families emerging from homelessness. WBCA annually serves approximately 200 youth and adults with disabilities through arts classes and experiences. Community events included high school writing and visual arts contests, Sandcastles and Creatures Building Contest, winter and summer open houses, film screenings, and live music performances. These events were free and open to the public.
In 2016, WBCA awarded $11,215 in class scholarships (an increase of 173% since 2013). WBCA also offered 108 free onsite classes in 2016 (an increase of 620% since 2013) in a multitude of artistic disciplines, including painting, writing, photography, public lectures, and artist discussion.
Current Goals
WBCA’s programmatic goals include: increasing participation in arts experiences through a culture of openness and inclusion; deepening partnerships that increase access to the arts for area children, youth, and families, and nurture the artistic development of creatively underserved people; and providing opportunities that cultivate the understanding of art in its many forms, celebrate the joys of art, and develop artists along a continuum of abilities.
Community or Constituency Served
WBCA is the only nonprofit arts center in the Greater Northeast Metro Area offering a diverse range of year-round art classes, events, and programs for children, adults, and families. Annually, WBCA directly serves 5000 children, 3000 adults and seniors, and an additional 25,000 individuals through events and outreach.
Geographic Area Served
WBCA is located in the Greater Northeast Metro Area. WBCA draws participants from 200+ zip codes, with the majority coming from Ramsey (60%) and Washington (25%) counties.
