A creative opportunity went seemingly unnoticed in the Eugene community this week.
The first workshop in a new series called Arts Explore was scheduled for Saturday, but it had to be canceled because too few people signed up for the course.
The program, started by the University Arts and Administration Program in partnership with its Continuing Education program, was created as an opportunity for adults to get a feel for the hands-on creative activities they often use with their children or young students, said Sandra Gladney, assistant director of planning & resources for the Continuation Center .
Workshops will take place on three Saturdays over the next three months, with each session running from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Although the sessions weren’t originally designed to be credit courses, participants who want to obtain credit for their activities can do so by paying anadditional fee, attending multiple sessions and completing additional coursework.
Gladney said that while children are familiar with such hands-on art activities, many adults are not, mainly because such creative instruction is often abandoned as one continues through a formal education.
With that in mind, the Arts Explore program was designed to appeal to a large scope of people.
Gladney also said that participants who aren’t educators can use the program as a good creative outlet.
“Arts Explore appeals to a broad range of participants whose common connector is working with children,” said Barbara Harris , marketing coordinator for Continuing Education. Harris added that everyone from educators to parents to working artists could benefit from attending the workshops.

“We encourage playful problem-solving and hands-on activities, which help participants to develop their own creative activities,” Harris said.
Each workshop will put participants through a series of stations that will explore a different art idea using a variety of media and activities. Louisa Lindsay-Sprouse and Catherine Ballard will guide participants through the problem-solving activities. Lindsay-Sprouse is the founding director of the Young Writers Association and Ballard has been the YouthArts director of the Lane Arts Council for more than 11 years. Lindsay-Sprouse has received multiple awards for her work and contributions to the culture of the community, and Ballard’s YouthArts program has received awards on the national and regional levels.
While the first workshop, originally scheduled for this Saturday, was canceled, the remaining workshops are expected to continue as originally planned. The next workshop is scheduled for March 11, with subsequent workshops on April 8 and May 13 .
Each workshop will emphasize a different aspect of art from a perspective not usually found in a formal classroom environment. The workshops will be held at the University’s Baker Downtown Center at 975 High Street.
Those interested in registering for the class can take advantage of the $69 early-bird registration fee and should contact the Continuing Education office at (800) 824-2714.