Arts Education at the QCA

Gallery tours, stage and musical performances, art and creativity camps, juried exhibitions for school-age artists, art lessons and activities delivered to your school by our traveling Artmobile. These activities and more are available through our Arts Education program.

Gallery tours and all art education activities are free, school day performances have a nominal fee, and the Quick Center can pay for your bus transportation costs the day of your visit.

Tour the Quick Center art galleries

We incorporate math, history, language arts and science in gallery tours and arts education activities, and we'll work with you to plan the best tour for your students' ages and your study focus.

Offerings include:

3D Expression, a glimpse into a new, revolutionary dimension of art quilts, creatively interpreted by artists from 14 states and 10 countries.
Fiesta Friends, a fun and interactive immersion in Spanish and Latin American art and culture.
Exploring Asia, a firsthand look at the art and culture of China, Korea, Japan and other Asian nations

Please schedule a tour by completing and submitting our online Gallery Tour Request Form.

We will then contact you to determine which gallery activities are appropriate for your students' ages and your study focus. We'll work with you to plan the best tour for your students.

Remember, tours and art programs are available free of charge for all students.

School bus grants are available to help regional school districts bring their elementary, middle and high school students to exhibitions, performances and other programs at the Quick Center.

You need to submit two things:

a completed School Bus Grant Application
a quote from the transportation company your school will be using to bus students to and from the Quick Center.

Applications should be submitted one month prior to your visit. Notification usually takes about two weeks after the receipt of the request. Funds will be disbursed in the form of a check mailed to the school on the day of your visit to the Quick Center.

Please note: Bus grants are available for Quick Center/Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center tours only when you book a tour and art activities at the Quick Center lasting two hours in length.

Questions?

Contact Anna Giglio, Office Manager
(716) 375-2493
Send an email

Young people's school day performances

Promo photo for holiday show at St. Bonaventure university Each year the Quick Center hosts a series of daytime performances for young audiences.

Some feature performances by the same accomplished musicians visiting campus as part of the Friends of Good Music's Performing Art Series. Others are productions by professional theater companies catering to young and family audiences.

Special performances of "The Mrs.Claus Holiday Show" by Kit's Interactive Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 7, actually cast members of the audience right into the show/

Learn more about our Young People's Performances.

Juried art exhibitions for young artists

Each year the QCA conducts art exhibitions for young artists from across the region. We're pleased to announce that the exhibitions for the 2021-2022 school year are returning as in-person events after being held virtually last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Juried exhibitions for young artists are as follows:

Elementary School: Dec. 7, 2021 to Jan. 16, 2022
Middle School: Feb. 14 to March 20, 2022
High School: April 5 to May 15, 2022

For submission deadlines and guidelines, opening reception information and more, visit our Juried Exhibitions for Young Artists webpage.

The QCA ArtMobile brings art to you

Students posing in front of the Quick Center's Artmobile

The Quick Center's ArtMobile provides traveling art outreach programs to six neighboring counties in New York and Pennsylvania, with visits to requesting nonprofit organizations serving all ages and art levels. The ArtMobile provides access to the Quick Center’s collections of original works as well as quality art lessons and activities. To request a visit from the ArtMobile, use our online form below.

Art Teacher Professional Development Day

Collage of past Teacher Development Day gatherings

The Quick Center hosts an Art Teacher Professional Development Day each year. It's an opportunity for art teachers from the region to share lesson plans and best practices, learn about new practices and techniques, and hear from interesting and accomplished speakers. Please return to this site often for information on the next program.

QCA Summer Experiences

We offer several QCA Summer Experiences, each designed to spark the imagination and creativity of young art lovers.

Please return to this site in spring 2022 for information on next summer's progrrams.

St. Bonaventure University