To celebrate the grand opening of the exhibition Daily Disney: Walt Disney Cartoons in the Funny Pages, SHSMO is hosting a week of Disney talks and a Drawing Disney day the first week of October at the Center for Missouri Studies, 605 Elm Street in Columbia. 

Disney, who grew up in the Missouri towns of Marceline and Kansas City, cross promoted his animated cartoons with nationally syndicated comic strips.  This new exhibition to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, includes a selection of these cartoons. The exhibit also features other images, such as a photo of Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton at Disney Studios, that reflect Disney's powerful influence on American culture.

The events are free and open to the public. Visitor parking is available in the SHSMO parking lot. Enter off of Locust Street.

Schedule of Events: (click each link for more information)

Tue. Oct. 1, Noon- Curator's Talk with Joan Stack in the SHSMO Art Gallery

Wed. Oct. 2, Noon - Walt Disney's Marceline with Kaye Malins (founder) and Sumner Nesbitt (operations manager) of Walt Disney Hometown Museum

Thur. Oct. 3, Noon - Walt Disney: Read All About It presented by Jeff Kurtti, Disney historian and Presidential Fellow at Chapman University in Orange, CA.

Fri. Oct. 4 - Drawing Disney - Learn how to draw cartoon animals and enjoy watching classic, early Disney cartoons - fun and open to all ages and abilities! (10-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.)

Hotel Elsinore

School Show on Wednesday October 16th at 10 AM at JCCC's Midwest Trust Center

Recommended for ages 13 and up

Details available on our website.

The annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest presented by Neosho Arts Council will be taking October 5 during the Neosho Fall Festival.  The event is open to kids, teens, and adults and features cash prizes in each age group.

“There’s something very special about the community coming together each fall and transforming our historic downtown with creative works of art on the sidewalks,” said Sarah Serio, president of Neosho Arts Council.

“Each year we are amazed at the creative works in each division,” Serio said. “Everyone from elementary aged kids to professional artists look forward to the Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest.”

The council started the event to engage the community with a creative and fun activity during Neosho’s annual fall celebration.

Free chalk pastels are given to entrants but the council has seen participants bring boxes of left over chalks from the previous year to supplement their supplies. They also see participants showing up with knee pads and towels to sit on.

According to Serio, the contest judge will be looking for works that conveys novelty and creativity while being well crafted with attention to detail that is appropriate to their age division.  

Ages 6 to 15 can enter the contest for free while those ages 16 and up will need to pay a $10 entry fee. Top prize in the Age 16 and up division is $300 with several hundred dollars being awarded over the three divisions.

The contest starts at 10:00am and the judging is at 2:00pm. “Everyone wanting to take part can sign up at any point between 10:00am and the start of judging, so long as they are done with their chalk art when the judge comes around,” Serio said. Sign up will be on the southwest corner of the Neosho Square at the Neosho Arts Council booth.

Details on the event can be found at neoshoarts.net. You can also follow @NeoshoArts on Facebook and Instagram.

The “Thomas Hart Benton Youth Art Competition and Exhibition” presented by the Neosho Arts Council will be accepting entries from kid’s age 8 to 12 and teens age 13 to 17.

“The goal is to encourage young artists and help show them that their work is just as worthy of exhibition as an adult’s work of art,” said Sarah Serio, president of the Neosho Arts Council. The works will hang on public display this fall at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery.

By running this event concurrently with the 29th Annual Thomas Hart Benton Art Competition and Exhibition for emerging and professional artists the group hopes to pave a path for young creators to start and keep exhibiting their works.

“Our group wants to encourage young area artists to create in traditional mediums so they can connect with their art in the same way that artists like Benton were able to,” Serio said. Prizes sponsored by Blick Art Materials will be awarded to the top three works in each division.

The event is accepting entries in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, pastels, charcoal, ink, and other similar 2D mediums. No photography, digital works, giclees, high relief works, or 3D works will be accepted.

“It’s exciting to hold this exhibition of young artist’s works on the Hatchery grounds because this was a place Benton himself came to as a young artist to create,” Serio explained

This will be the second year for the exhibition to be hosted at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery which opened in 1888. Benton, who was born in Neosho in 1889, was known to have created art on the hatchery grounds. This includes a 1912 painting titled “The Fish Hatchery, Neosho.”

There is no entry fee for either division and no residency requirements. Up to three entries will be accepted per young artist. Works can be dropped off and entered September 20 – 26 at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, McKinney St./Hwy 86, Neosho, MO 64850,  Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Awards will be presented on October 17 at a closing reception from 5:00 to 6:30pm at the Neosho Fish National Fish Hatchery.

You can learn more about the event and download the entry form at neoshoarts.net

Exciting things are happening at Spiva this October! We’re kicking off the month with an offsite sketching in the Park workshop, led by Kinley Young at the Wildcat Glades Education Cottage. We're also thrilled to host our very first class in Spanish, Celebrando el Arte with Daniel Perez, in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month. Daniel Perez-Martinez, a Deaf artist from El Salvador who moved to the U.S. in 2021 and now resides in Parsons, KS, will guide participants through an exploration of art and culture.

To wrap up the month, Rachel Cabral will lead a Watercolor Portrait class where participants will study Tim Burton's unique style and create their own spooky self-portraits, just in time for Halloween!

You can view the full fall schedule at spivaarts.org/classes and sign up for classes directly from the website! Please contact Des Hernandez, our Education Director, at dhernandez@spivaarts.org with any questions.

Weekly Classes:

Creation Station with Stacy Heydt
Tuesdays, September 3- May 20, 4 – 5:15 pm, ages 6-12
Cost: $6 preregistration, $8 @ door

Drop in Thursday afternoons and experiment with a variety of media: painting, drawing, clay, collage, sculpture, and printmaking. Have a snack and explore the galleries with scavenger hunts and other activities! Pre-registration is recommended. Space is limited in this popular class!

Studio 55 with Jordan Murdock-Thompson or Jesse McCormick
Fridays, September 6 - December 20, 2:30 – 4:30 pm, ages 55+
Cost: Free, $10 Donation Suggested

Studio 55 is an art class tailored for adults aged 55 and up that takes place each Friday! Alternating every other week, join us in our open studio facilitated by Jesse McCormick or a class taught by Jordan Murdock-Thompson. All supplies are provided, and thanks to the Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust, there is no cost to attend the classes. Spiva does welcome a $10 suggested donation to help keep the program growing.

October Classes:

Sketching in the Park with Kinley Young
Saturday, October 5, 10 am – 12 pm
Ages: 8+
Cost: $35

Capture the beauty of nature in this outdoor sketching workshop led by Kinley Young. Participants will meet at the Education Cottage at Wildcat Glades, where you’ll learn techniques for sketching the stunning local surroundings. *Please note that this class will meet off the Spiva premises. You will receive additional instructions on the date sign ups end.

Soft Cover Books with Olive Sullivan
Saturday, October 5, 12 pm – 4:30 pm
Ages: 12+, Children 8-11 may attend with accompanying parent
Cost: $45

Explore the art of bookmaking in this immersive workshop with Olive Sullivan. Begin the day with a walk around the neighborhood, drawing inspiration to write your own poem. Afterward, you’ll learn how to assemble a book cover and create a folio for yourself. In the second half of the class, participants will exchange folios and work together to assemble their own soft cover sewn book, featuring the work of everyone in the group. Each person will take home a soft cover sewn book that includes the work of everyone in class.

Celebrando el arte con Daniel Perez
Sábado, 12 de octubre, 11 AM – 1 PM
Edades: A partir de 8 años, los niños de 5 a 8 años pueden asistir acompañados por un padre.
Costo: $25

Ven a SPIVA para una charla de introduccion al arte dirigida por Daniel Perez, Esta session sera impartida en Español, ofreciendo a los Jovenes participantes una oportunidad de explorar yapreciar varias ramas artisticas, y crear sus propias obras.

Saturday, October 12, 11 am – 1 pm
Ages: Ages 8+, children ages 5-8 can attend with an accompanying parent.
Cost: $25

Join us at Spiva for an art appreciation class led by Daniel Perez. This engaging session will be taught in Spanish, offering young participants a chance to explore and appreciate various works of art and take home a creation of their own.

Clay for Kids with Stephanie Roy
Saturday, October 12, 10 am-12pm
Ages: 8-14
Cost: $50

Kids will have a blast getting messy with clay while making their own ceramic items to be fired and enjoyed for a lifetime. *Projects will be kiln fired and students will be contacted when they are ready to be picked up.

Wheel Throwing for Adults with Stephanie Roy
Saturday, October 12, 1 pm – 4 pm
Ages: 15+
Cost: $65

Get your hands messy with clay! Participants will learn all about wheel throwing while making their own clay creations! *Projects will be kiln fired and students will be contacted when they are ready to be picked up.

Felted Coin Purses with Stacy Heydt
Saturday, October 19th, 12 pm – 3 pm
Ages: 12+
Cost: $35

Discover the art of felting in this engaging workshop where you’ll create your very own felted coin purse from wool! Join Stacy Heydt as she guides you through the process of turning wool fibers into a soft and sturdy purse, perfect for keeping your small essentials safe.

Drawing from Life: Charcoal with Kinley Young
Saturday, October 19, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Ages: 14+
Cost: $35

Explore the expressive potential of charcoal in this engaging drawing class with Kinley Young. Participants will dive into the captivating world of charcoal, focusing on drawing from various still life setups.

Watercolor Caricatures with Rachel Cabral
Saturday, October 26, 10 am – 12 pm
Ages: 12+
Cost: $35

Students will study the work of Tim Burton and learn to draw in his unique style, using watercolor and ink to make their own spooky self-portrait!

Ozarks Lyric Opera (OLO) proudly announces its 45th season "World So Wide." The 2024-25 season offers two operas, three concerts, and an intimate onstage experience all at the historic Gillioz Theatre. And for the first time ever, OLO is offering a 50% DISCOUNT on season tickets (a savings of over $125) until September 15. See below for details.

"A Foreign Affair" kicks off the 2024-25 OLO season in September with another intimate, and soon-to-be sold out, concert and dining experience with Artistic Director, Michael Spyres. In November, OLO presents Aaron Copland's gorgeous opera "The Tender Land," and then we finish out the year with a holiday music spectacular "Home for the Holidays: A Spyres Family Concert." In March, the always popular "Opera Rocks" returns to the stage with the M Dock Band, and April brings the Missouri premiere of the enchanting opera "The Little Prince." OLO finishes their 45th season with "Jazz Aria," a fun, opera and jazz collaboration with the Missouri Jazz Orchestra (MOJO) in May. 

OLO 2024-25 Season Dates:

November 8, 10 2024 The Tender Land*

December 20, 2024 Home for the holidays*

March 22, 2025 Opera Rocks!*

April 11, 13, 2025 The Little Prince* 

May 24, 2025 Jazz Aria w/ MOJO^ 

*Season subscriber event

^Special event

Learn more here.

October 12 @ 7:30pm
October 13 @ 2:30
Touhill Performing Arts Center

Balanchine’s Serenade and Western Symphony reveal his emotional range—Serenade, his first U.S. ballet, is a sweeping Tchaikovsky masterpiece, while Western Symphony blends classical ballet with American folk dance, featuring cowboys and saloon girls in a lively, spirited setting. Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain Pas de Deux, a haunting duet, honors Balanchine. This opening performance of the 2024-2025 season showcases Saint Louis Ballet's versatility, combining romanticism, the Old West, and heartfelt melodies in a program filled with spirit and artistry.

Learn more here.

CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS

November 4, 5:00-6:30 PM

Metro Theater Company, 3311 Washington in Grand Center

If you write songs, scripts, books or create other artistic works with someone else, you and your co-creator should understand how the copyright law defines “joint works.” And to avoid misunderstandings, the details of your collaboration should be put in writing. Attorney David S. Kim, Stinson, is our speaker.

RECORDKEEPING FOR FREELANCERS AND SELF-EMPLOYED CREATIVES

December 9, 5:00-6:30 PM

Metro Theater Company, 3311 Washington in Grand Center

Get ready for 2025! This recordkeeping workshop is for creatives of all disciplines who receive fees, grants, and other business income. We’ll explain why accurate record keeping is important, show you how to keep track of your income and expenses, and review the most common Schedule C deductions. Getting organized now will streamline your tax preparation and ensure that you don’t pay more than you really owe. VLAA Executive Director Sue Greenberg is the presenter.

Learn more and register here.

Teacher Workshops at the Saint Louis Art Museum are free for all current and pre-service educators. Topics range across disciplines, and connect to artwork and themes on view in the Museum. A boxed meal and all materials are provided. To learn more about teacher programs or to enroll in a workshop visit slam.org/teachers-students or contact teacherprograms@slam.org for more information.

Saturday, October 19, 9:30-2 pm

Join us for a special workshop with Yacouba Sissoko, master kora player from the djeli tradition in Mali. Djelis are the musical storytellers in West Africa, a position that is inherited through a family bloodline. This teacher workshop includes a musical performance from Sissoko and his band SIYA, a free tour of the exhibition Narrative Wisdom and African Arts, followed by a workshop with Sissoko where he will share stories about djeli culture, his personal history, and the making of the kora. He will also lead participants in learning a song. 

Reaching All Learners: Sensory Awareness in the Art Room

Saturday, November 2, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Learn more about neurodiversity and sensory processing differences that students might experience and discover strategies, tools, and adaptions to create safe, inclusive, and accessible arts classroom. The workshop will include research-based presentations from Different Dynamics, hands-on activities, and

dialogue with professionals in the field. Different Dynamics provides music programming for people of all ages, neurotypes, and abilities.

Teacher Workshop: Visual Storytelling

Saturday, December 7, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm 

Teachers will visit the exhibition Narrative Wisdom and African Arts and then be guided through an interactive workshop, led by Nigerian-American artist Victor Ekpuk, that will explore painting narratives with symbols, signs, and marks. Participants will learn to build a composition together while turning symbols into stories. Attendees will leave with a completed artwork as well as strategies to continue exploring the methods demonstrated, both independently and with students.

Please feel free to join us for any of the following UMSL First 5 events, whether you're an art teacher in your first five years of teaching or not! All are welcome, including veteran teachers, teachers of other subjects, your kiddos, etc. We look forward to seeing you at one of our First 5 events this year!

QUARTER 2

“TEACHING THROUGH TRAUMA” WITH DR. BRITT TATE-BEAUGARD

November 13, 2024, 5:30 PM in UMSL Fine Arts Building Room 230

7801 Rosedale Dr., St. Louis, MO 63121

Dr. Britt Tate-Beaugard is an elementary art teacher in St. Louis Public Schools. In this session, she will outline methods and strategies she has used while teaching and learning with students who are living with trauma.

QUARTER 3

“THE FIBER ARTWORK OF DR. RITADORIS UBAH” WITH DR. RITADORIS UBAH

February 19, 2025, 5:30 PM 

UMSL Fine Arts Building Room 230

7801 Rosedale Dr., St. Louis, MO 63121

Dr. RitaDoris Ubah, a recent transplant to St. Louis, is originally from Nigeria where she was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nigeria. She is an Art & Design consultant, Art Historian, and Fiber and Textile Installation Artist. In this session, she will outline methods and strategies she uses to create large scale fiber installations in the classroom.

QUARTER 4

“FIRST 5 AND MAEA DISTRICT 8 SOCIAL” WITH DR. JENNIFER FISHER
May 7, 2025 - 6:30 PM
Ferguson Brewing Company - 418 S Florissant Rd - Ferguson, MO 63135

Come join us as this informal First 5 and MAEA District 8 Social to connect with other area art teachers, enjoy food and drink, and swap stories from your school year!

One less thing on your to-do list: book your 24/25 field trip today!

Give your students an unforgettable field trip next school year—experience the power of live music with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Choose from an exciting lineup of performances, including education concerts designed to spark imagination, inspiring classical concerts, and fan-favorite films with live score.

Learn more and book here!

School Opportunities

Bookings foe School assemblies, DJ Services

DJ UP for High School Dances 

Parent and Educator Resources

Student Opportunities

Creative Youth Development in a State of the Arts Studio in the Grand Center Arts District!

Social Connection and Mental Health

Youth Organizing and Movement Building

Community Development and Placemaking

Workforce Development and Career Pathways

The Center is located at 3701 Grandel Sq, Studio 1A, Saint Louis, MO 63108

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs 3:00-8:00, Friday 3:00-9:00, Saturday 1:00-5:00

Youth 16-25 years old are encouraged to apply. 

Join Stitchers Youth Council

FREE to youth!

Application Link: https://storystitchers.wufoo.com/forms/zeinv521f4w9ez/

Link to UPComining Performances