About

Community Art Garden is a community art studio and school located on the Green in Chester, Vermont, that draws its inspiration from the Reggio Emilia process of arts education.  We provide hands-on arts enrichment and open-ended studio time for artists of all ages through CLASSES, community events and camps. Founded and run by Emily Burkland, Community Art Garden is inspired and encouraged by the incredible community that surrounds the studio and the natural world.

MISSION

We strive to provide a safe and creative environment that nurtures respect for the artist, the community, the natural world and especially the young child. Facilitating opportunities for authentic connection to community through hands on art experiences, we are committed to fostering ART for ALL. We believe that social action and community art go hand in hand and it is our mission to be a catalyst for art that promotes social justice. We want to engage people from all walks of life because we believe that more than ever ART is important for ourselves and for our world. Everyone deserves to find their inner artist and we want to provide hands on experiences that facilitate this discovery.

Meet Emily

In 2013,  I was inspired to create a space in my Chester COMMUNITY where people of all ages and all walks of life could explore and experience the creative arts, a space for the community to reflect (on) itself through artist expression. I have been following the path of an early childhood educator since 1998 and am inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education, with its focus on integrating community, high quality ART experiences and respect for the young child. When I am not creating in the studio and nurturing seeds of creativity in our community, you can usually find me in somewhere outside, maybe in the GARDEN or perhaps on stage.

I like to think of myself as a catalyst for community events involving art & music! I am forever grateful to my family, friends and my community for supporting this venture.