We have missed you and are excited to announce we will finally be able to see you in person again! Acorn has been a safe space for children to express their joys and their fears through art for the past 25 years and we can’t imagine not being here for all of you through this new challenge we all face. There will, however, be quite a few changes in how we will operate. While some of the new protocols may seem extreme or inconvenient, please keep in mind they are in place to keep us all safe and none of these decisions were made lightly and some are mandated by state regulations. 

New precautions and protocol:

• We have procured a medical grade air filter for our studio
• Classes will be limited to 8 students per class to allow for a full easel set up between students
• No parents/caregivers inside the studio
• Temperature of all students and staff will be taken before entering the studio
• All students will wear a mask (properly – covering mouth and nose) while in the studio for the entirety of the class, this is not negotiable 
• No one will use the sink to wash their hands, parents must provide wipes at their cars and/or the student must wear gloves
• Students will be required to procure their own brushes. We will provide resources for purchasing brushes online or brushes can be purchased through us. Brushes must be taken home and cleaned after every class.
• No food will be allowed in the studio. Students can bring a personal beverage, but if it gets forgotten it will be thrown away at the end of class (no lost and found for reusable bottles) 
• All students MUST be picked up on time; students will not be permitted to wait inside studio for rides, no matter the weather/temperature 
• Due to severe space limitations, make up classes will no longer be offered.

We are also asking for a minimum 3 month commitment paid in full upfront. If another stay at home order is issued we will refund the remainder of tuition. 

Our current 2020/2021 schedule will be as follows and will begin Monday October 5th:

Monday

• After School Class (7 to 12 year olds): 4 – 5 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 1: 5 -6 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 1: 6 – 7 p.m.

Tuesday

• After School Class (6 & 7 year olds): 2 – 3 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 1: 4 – 5 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 2: 5 – 7 p.m.

Wednesday

• After School Class (6 & 7 year olds): 2 – 3 p.m.
• After School Class (7 to 12 year olds): 3 – 4 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 1: 4 – 5 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 2: 5 – 7 p.m.

Thursday

• After School Class (7 to 12 year olds): 4 – 5 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 1: 5 – 6 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 1: 6 – 7 p.m.

Friday

• PrePortfolio 1: 3 – 4 p.m.
• PrePortfolio 2: 4 – 6 p.m.

Portfolio classes will no longer be an open class schedule. Students must register for either Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, or Saturday classes. Week day classes are 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Debra and Jack will be stepping aside for the year, but we have familiar faces stepping in. Jessica O’Shea, who took over for AJ at the start of last year will continue on as the head teacher for all After School classes as well as all PrePortfolio classes along with co-teacher Garrett. Gage Delprete, a returning Acorn student and working artist, will be teaching the Portfolio classes.

We welcome questions and would like to address any concerns you may have. 

Thank you and we look forward to your enrollment,

Jack, Debra, and the Acorn staff

A lot of you have emailed us about our summer classes. It has taken us a while to figure out the best and safe way to redesign the program to make it safe and enjoyable for everyone. We have been running our summer programs for 20 years and I have to say this is the toughest challenge we have had to face. I feel confident that we have come up with the solution!

The first change is there will be no in- studio 3-d design classes. We are sad about that, as it was one of the most child directed creative classes on the north shore. But fear not, it will be back next year!

We will however conduct the outdoor painting classes held at The Salem Willows for ages 8 and up. But due to the virus there will be some changes as follows:
1. We can no longer transport your child. A parent or designated guardian must drop off the child at 9am curbside in front of The Clam Shack and pick up at 1pm from the same location.
2. Every child will be checked with a forehead thermometer every morning before the parent leaves. And given a squirt of hand sanitizer.
3. Every child must have a face mask or they can not attend.
4. All supplies given to that child on Monday will only be touched by that child through the course of the week. Which means they will be bringing them home and back every morning; easel, palette, painting, brushes. ( a box should be placed in your car to ensure you don’t get paint in your car)
5. Every child must bring the following…a lunch, baby wipes , mask, sunscreen, beach shoes, cloths they don’t mind getting wet for wading in the water.

The program will also be set up differently. There will be three experienced Acorn Teachers stationed within view of each other yet several yards apart. Each teacher will have  five students. Each teacher will have their own sets of paints to distribute.
The students will be set up six feet from each other within the group.
Each teacher will do their own demo for each group and when helping a student through the course of the week the student is expected to step back and the teacher with their own brushes will assist that student ( in design, color mixing, or technique)
Painting time will be from arrival till 11:30 followed by lunch and some beach time where the student is not allowed to go over their waist in the water. If it rains each set of students will be in the three gazebos that are in the park. Pick up is at the same location as drop off. Please be on time.
At the end of each week all materials will be sanitized and ready for the following week.

Our programs have always been conducted in small groups, so as in the past, space is limited. We suggest you sign up early to ensure the week you want.  We run all summer with the exact dates of the weeks on our website.
Sign up is going on now from our website:
www.acornartschool.com

( our on line classes will continue through the summer and hopefully be a part of Acorn from now on as we have picked up a lot of national and international students)

If all you want is one lesson/link we understand and we can accommodate that. There will also be a few Adult classes that will only be available as individual classes ($15).

Here is a small taste of what is to come: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYwaqjyysPE

If clicking the link does not work please copy and paste into your search bar.

Lovely Acorns of all ages, 

We are happy to be doing our small part in these trying times by staying closed and at home. We hope that you are safe and healthy as well. We miss you. 

We have been hard at work trying to find a way to be an active part of your lives and maybe be able to help relieve some mental strain. We have decided to utilize our YouTube channel to bring the lessons we are all missing straight to your home (complete with Debra Stories). 

Our goal is to create and publish 4 lessons per month for as long as social distancing continues. One month of classes will cost $60. If you are interested in being a part of this new Acorn experience, please go to our website https://acornartschool.com and click on Register for Classes. There you will find a tab labeled “Virtual” where you can register for all our new virtual lessons. As lesson/story videos become available we will email private links to those that are participating. When you register please make sure you include the email address you would like to receive your class links.

We understand that money is tighter than usual for many so we are also working to put out a few public stories and possibly a lesson or two.

We love & miss you all, 

Jack, Debra, and the rest of the Acorn staff

The Acorn community is my family. I miss you all greatly when I can not be there to teach you. This current need for distance is hard, but very important. We are taking this opportunity to sterilize our space to be ready for your return. If the unthinkable happens and this carries into April a special “mini day camp” is currently in the works.

Be safe and I look forward to when we get to reconnect our community.

IN STUDIO PROGRAM: (ages 8+)

Are your children tired of a summer program where they are just one child in a large group of children?  Do they come home tired because all day long they have been ordered around and told what to do? ACORN SCHOOL OF ART has the perfect program for the child that wants their summer to FEEL like it’s vacation.

* Limited to 8 children with 3 teachers

* Center-based classroom with various supplies (provided)

* Child chooses what they want to make. Imagination is encouraged. The teacher’s job is to facilitate the creative thinking process and assist with difficult aspects of the construction.

* Outdoor play and snack at Crocker Park once a day (included in camp cost)

CLASS OPTIONS:

* Full day (9am-4pm) – $550

* Morning session (9am-1pm) – $300

* Afternoon (1pm-4pm) – $250

SALEM WILLOWS LANDSCAPE PAINTING PROGRAM: (ages 7+)

*  Children are taken to the Salem Willows and taught the traditional plein air techniques covering the foundations of perspective, color, and value over the course of a week. Each student will complete one 12 x 16 in. panel of a landscape view of their choice. Each morning opens up with demonstration. The student then picks their spot, and 3 teachers assist them throughout the process. Late morning, we break for snack and the children are supervised in the arcade (children must bring quarters for the arcade). Pick up is at 1pm at the Acorn Gallery.

*  Limited to 16 students with 3 teachers

*  Transportation to and from studio provided

*  Snack provided

*  Supplies included in cost

CLASS TIME:

9am to 1pm Monday-Friday

Sign up is easy! Click on ‘Register for Classes’ at the top of the page, then click  ‘Summer 2020’ to find the summer class options.

Our summer program sign up has begun! Sign up today to ensure you are enrolled in the week that works best for you and your child’s schedule. This program offers onsite landscape painting experience as well as in studio creative workshops. Click on the register for classes page and select summer 2019 to see a full list of offerings.

Hello Acorn Family,

We want to inform everyone that there will be no classes tomorrow February 9th due to the coming snow.  Everyone enjoy making snow forts and snow angels.  If you would like to make up your missed class please contact us via phone or email.

781-631-6030  acorngallerymarblehead@gmail.com

Photo above from the 2015 storms 🙂