Bilingual Creative Gatherings for All Ages
A new series of classes at Sonoma Community Center.
Sonoma, California. Sonoma Community Center is pleased to announce a new series of free and low-cost classes and workshops designed to make creative education accessible to everyone in the community. Made possible through an arts education grant from The Community Foundation Sonoma County, the program will offer at least one class or workshop each month across a diverse range of artistic disciplines.
Participants will have opportunities to explore screen printmaking, sewing, ceramics, culinary arts, movement, writing, and more, with offerings designed to welcome all experience levels; from those trying something new for the first time to experienced artists looking to expand their skills.
By removing financial barriers to participation, the program creates space for people of all backgrounds and skill levels to learn alongside one another, build creative confidence, and form meaningful connections. Whether discovering a new interest, developing an existing artistic practice, or simply looking for a new way to connect with the community, participants are invited to explore their own creative paths at Sonoma Community Center.
“Now more than ever, communities need to create safe spaces to bring people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives together in a common purpose,” said Vanessa Glamore Rognlien, Executive Director of the Center. That purpose, she said, is “creating art together, finding commonalities, and building connections.”
The monthly programs will be offered in both English and Spanish, with bilingual instructors or translation support available to ensure participants can fully engage in each class. When possible, classes will also include ASL interpretation, further expanding access to creative opportunities at the Center.
Grant funds will also support a new teaching artist pathway designed to strengthen and expand the Center’s Spanish-language and ASL arts education offerings. Building on its commitment to bilingual and accessible programming, the Center has created a pathway for local Spanish-speaking artists to develop the skills and experience needed to become teaching artists. In partnership with the ASL community, the Center will also identify specific artistic disciplines where there is an opportunity to develop new ASL-accessible teaching talent.
The program will provide artists with a supportive introduction to arts education. Participants will begin by honing their artistic skills in the Center’s professional studios, and receive mentorship from experienced teaching artists to learn teaching methodology, classroom management, and studio practices. They will then shadow classes before moving into a supported teaching experience, where they can develop their skills, receive feedback, and build confidence before launching classes of their own.
Artists participating in the pathway will receive a stipend in recognition of their time and commitment. By investing in local artists as educators, the program will help create a sustainable pipeline of teaching artists who can expand access to high-quality arts education in Spanish and ASL for the Sonoma Valley community.
The program builds on the success of recent community offerings made possible through underwriting from the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, which supported several low-cost lantern-making workshops with artist Valerie Seaberg in September. With support from the Community Foundation Sonoma County grant, Sonoma Community Center will continue expanding these opportunities throughout the year, beginning with bilingual Día de Muertos craft classes in October, cookie decorating in November, and a variety of “Handcrafted for the Holidays” workshops in December.
To easily identify these special classes, visit the programming tab at the top of SonomaCommunityCenter.org and click on the menu item “multilingual.” The Sonoma Community Center is located at 276 East Napa Street in Sonoma.
About Sonoma Community Center
The Sonoma Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1953 to serve the communities of Sonoma Valley with the mission of cultivating a vibrant community through extraordinary creative, cultural, and learning experiences. Originally built as the Sonoma Grammar School, which opened in 1916, the Center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Community – Innovation – Creativity – Inclusion – Leadership
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Media Contact:
Vanessa Glamore Rognlien
Executive Director, Sonoma Community Center
[email protected]
707-931-4166
