Education
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Art nest
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after-school programs
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Summer camps
·
curricula
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workbook
·
online lessons
·
field trips
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Education

A line of kids and their parents on the sidewalk with Maxon Mills in the background. Most hold parade items: flags, flowers, colorful cloths.

Our education program reaches hundreds of students each year through public-facing programs and local partnerships. These include summer camps, workshops, activities for kids at our events, online art lessons, hosting art clubs with and in seven local public schools, and designing curricula. We seek to empower the artist in every student, giving them lifelong tools to explore and express themselves.

Art Nest Hours

Saturdays, 12–5 PM

Learn more ->

The Art Nest

A drop-in artmaking space for kids.
Open Saturdays, 12–5 PM.

A group of students stand in front of a long desk working on mushroom art projects. A row of mushroom and bug posters hangs on the wall above their heads.

After-School Programs

Junior Varsity and Varsity Art Clubs.
Hosted in the Maker Space in Luther Barn.

Summer Camps

Day camps for students grades 2–12.
2025 sign-ups begin in January.

Curricula

Designed in partnership with the Cary Institute for Ecological Studies.

Art at Home: A Workbook

11 lessons and activities, available in English and Spanish.

Our educational values

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"Thank you for all you’ve done! [My daughter] once again enjoyed being a part of the Varsity group this year. It is something she looks forward to every week and she can’t wait to be a part of it next year."

— Varsity Arts Club Parent

Online Lessons

Anthropomorphic Sculptures

with Marianna Peragallo

Dream Drawings

with Maximilian Bode

Goo Workshop

with Tamara Johnson and Trey Burns

Mixed Media Portraits

with Jamea Richmond-Edwards

Paper Mache

with Nicole Dyer

Salon Walls

with Kirstin Lamb

Through the Portal

with Ben Pinder

Dimensional Portraits

with Tiffany Lin
Note: We're still migrating a few of our online lessons over to our new website. They'll all be back within a couple weeks!

"The best 30 consecutive days of my life were spent in residency at the Wassaic Project. The entire experience of community with artists and Wassaic Project staff, the barn, the mill, and proximity to nature was beyond fortifying on every level."
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Kristi Keener
2022 Summer Resident

Four women smiling in an art studio. Three have one foot up on a chair, one is crouched in front.
Left to right: Kristi Keener, Lexy Ho-Tai, Maya Varadaraj, Nicole Banowetz

"Somehow it still feels radical to be both an artist and a mother. My family is loud, we take up space, we have time constraints and schedules. We don’t fit with most art spaces, which is why I will forever sing the praises of the Wassaic Project for welcoming me as an artist with a family. I’m still practicing shaking off the stigmas.”

Jordan Buschur
2022 Family Resident

A man and a woman in a bright orange sweater sit smiling on a porch with their three children.
Jordan Buschur and family

"I want to share my sincere thanks for a wonderful, productive, and stimulating residency this summer! It was such a joy to spend two months at Wassaic. This residency stirred up so many new possibilities, ideas, and potentials. I'll be squeezing the juice out of this experience for many months to come.”

Lauren Ruth
2022 Summer Resident

A woman sitting smiling on top of a pile of Astroturf on a folding table in a white barn studio. A blue net with orange ties hangs above her head.
Lauren Ruth

"I had a great time. I would have stayed longer if it were feasible. Everyone from the staff to the residents were very supportive and was open to any idea that I brought to them. Wassaic Project is truly an open space that will find a way to see your vision come to light."

Ryan Davis
2022 Summer Resident

A smiling man in a jumpsuit sitting on a wooden chair in a well-lit art studio in Luther Barn. Behind him are some in-progress paintings.
Ryan Davis

[The residency] had a very positive and profound impact on me at a time when I really needed some intense studio/sanctuary time away from my usual routine/environment to shake up, regroup, and process some new ideas.

Michael Hambouz
2022 Summer Resident

A man smiles while standing hunched over an in-progress artwork in his studio.
Michael Hambouz

"My whole life has changed so much thanks to all of you. New friends, new shows, invitation to Italy, etc... I'm so totally grateful to everyone."

Rachel Collier
2021–2022 Winter Resident

A woman stands in front of a large, colorful art rug hung on the wall. A red rugmaking frame outlines the left side of the photo.
Rachel Collier

"Wassaic Project is a wonderful, community-minded residency with staff providing support that is above and beyond. As a family resident, the shorter 2-week residency allowed me a manageable amount of time away to solely focus on my practice. I was able to delve into the research and develop concepts around a new body of work, while also exploring the ample local flora to create inks and dyes to use in the studio."

Janet Wang
2022 Summer Family Resident

A woman in a light pinstripe shirt, shorts, and sandals stands in her studio in a white barn. Her arms are crossed and she is lightly smiling at the camera.
Janet Wang

Field trips

We're able to accommodate school groups of all sizes at Maxon Mills. We have three bathrooms — one ADA-compliant — space for parking, plenty of outdoor space, and two classrooms. Email jill@wassaicproject.org to set up a visit.