This year we are excited to be offering two Art Workshops (each with 6 studio workdays)!

1 for Adult Adoptees, and 1 for Teen Adoptees

Registration is Required

These workshops are not traditional art classes, and are designed for nonartists (those new to or less confident in art making). These workshops will focus on the creation of art as a form of meaningful expression and communication, and elevate the idea that art-making of value is for everyone!

Each workshop which meets is divided into parts, designed to gradually increase the challenge for attendees. Each workshop part has 2 meeting dates, so a total of 6 scheduled days to complete pieces. Most materials will be provided. For those who would benefit from more time, open studio days will be added. Workshops were designed to take all 3 parts together, especially for those who do art infrequently and/or for those who hope to potentially include a piece in the upcoming 2024 Encompass Adoptee's Art show. Workshops for 2024 and 2025 are being sponsored by Ohio Kinnect, allowing for a large variety of media to work with while keeping the cost to participants very low.

Those who consider themselves artists are encouraged to submit pieces to the Open Call for artist work. Those who feel somewhere in the middle can reach out to us and may be able to join parts 3 and/or 4.

Please note- as with our last art show, a small number of special guests (who have related lived experiences in foster care, kinship care, etc) will be invited to participate. At Encompass, we find this diversity meaningful, and also know the pain that strict exclusivity can cause. We feel this inclusion increases self-understanding, connection, and creates a way to honor part of the Both/And dynamic- by giving room for both similarities and differences within a community of those with experiences of loss or degrees of separation from birth parents.

This year’s annual Encompass Adoptee Art Show theme will be on Belonging & Connection and will be held in November during Adoption Awareness Month! Dates TBA. A call to community artists will be offered again and will be posted soon.