Arts Cool's Profile

Art’s Cool! partners with communities in the Puget Sound region to offer studio art making and art history and appreciation classes in their facilities or for travel groups. Public and private schools, community centers, churches, museums and resorts are examples of locations where Art’s Cool! classes and workshops may be held.

Art’s Cool! designs class offerings based on partners’ interests and skill levels in a variety of studio art areas such as drawing, painting, mixed-media, sculpture, ceramics, print-making, jewelry and other fine crafts, design, art appreciation and art history.

From adults to preschool students, Art’s Cool! Instructors span a full range of expertise in offering classes from beginner to master level for advanced students and artists.

Art’s Cool! Instructors are accomplished practicing and exhibiting artists who love to teach art. Most Art’s Cool! Instructors have Masters in Fine Arts degrees, Art Educator certification or are considered Masters by their colleagues in their chosen media.

Art’s Cool! offers secure registration services at the www.artscool.org website using Pay Pal or by mailed in registration. Students receive email generated class confirmations. Partners receive detailed class lists and pertinent information such as emergency contacts or permission to walk home for children after classes at their school all generated via the Art’s Cool! managed registration format.

Arts Cool! works with partners to design a working relationship to ensure that the program is a success for all concerned. Contact Art’s Cool! to find out more about starting a program in your community.

Nancy Loorem, former Head of School of the successful Bellevue Art Museum School, responded to the request of groups who were partnering with BAM to offer site-based studio art and art history classes prior to Museum’s unexpected closure in October 2003. With the support of the Museum School Instructors, Lakeridge PTA Art Program Coordinator, Rei Shimizu, and school principal Ralph Allen, with Nancy’s leadership Art’s Cool! was founded.

Nancy is an accomplished community leader, educator and artist and is dedicated to art education. Prior to coming to BAM she served in key roles on the BAM Board of Trustees during the highly successful capital campaign, which raised $23 million to build, the Steven Holl designed Museum. Professionally Nancy held several leadership positions with the Bellevue School District: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Executive Director of Elementary and Preschool Education, Elementary Principal in two elementary schools and elementary school teacher. She holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Washington. Nancy is an accomplished jewelry artist with pieces in the private collection of many individuals. Most recently her jewelry was featured in BAM’s Museum Store.

Nancy has an excellent working relationship with the Art’s Cool! Instructors who all agreed to join her to continue serving groups throughout the Puget Sound region interested in offering art classes in their own settings.

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