The Children's Art Studio | Washington, D.C.
The Children's Art Studio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on the belief that children reap tremendous emotional, intellectual and developmental gains from making art and that this opportunity should be made available to all children regardless of their family's ability to pay.  Need-based scholarships are available.

The quality of the instruction is a core characteristic of the program.  Each student is given individual attention, and special care is given to the development of their talent.  Children are guided to navigate the social terrain of the class and the projects are structured to encourage problem solving with an eye towards solutions that benefit the group.  Each individual is cherished while we value the common good.

Long class sessions provide children with the opportunity to focus on their work for uninterrupted periods of time and to move past self-imposed limitations.  Children learn to slow down, concentrate, plan, think, persevere, and do.  A wide range of high quality, non-toxic and eco-friendly materials are used and children learn to manipulate the materials with skill and acuity.
The Children's Art Studio is a member of the North American Reggio Emelia Alliance, whose mission it is to envision a world where all children are honored and respected for their potential, capabilities and humanity.  CAS is also a member of the DC Cultural Development Corporation.
The Children's Art Studio Internship Program provides a learning opportunity for young adults to develop creative leadership and time management skills in a unique education context.  The Studio benefits tremendously from the talent, intelligence and thoughtfulness of our energetic interns.  We recruit the very best from American University, The Corcoran School of Art, Deal Middle School, Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Georgetown Day School and School Without Walls.  If you are interested in applying for an intern position at the Studio, please email us.
Nicole Brandes is the founding director of The Children's Art Studio.  Nicole holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California and has the DCPS teaching credential.  She has taught drawing and painting in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Henry Street Art Settlement and the New York City Public School system.  In Washington, she has taught at Fillmore Arts Center, the Maryland College of Art, the Lab School and at Bancroft Elementary School, where she was the lead instructor for over five hundred children. Nicole is a practicing visual artist and is represented by the Pierogi Gallery in Brooklyn, New York and has received the Puffin Award, Art Matters Award and Russell Award for Artistic Excellence.  Her work has been shown by Apex Art and Printed Matter in New York City, Gasworks in London, School 33 in Baltimore and Berea College in Kentucky, where she was a visiting Artist in Residence.
In the studio, children are digging for new meaning with their own hands and minds.