Naples Art Institute, one of the region’s longest-standing arts organizations, revamped its cultural programming in recent years—last season’s Keith Haring exhibit was the talk of the town. Now, the center amps its family offerings with its Artsy Evenings kids class, where you can drop off the kiddos for art lessons while you peruse the gallery or have a date night on nearby Fifth Avenue South.
The workshops—which run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month in season—teach everything from watercolor and pastel painting to 3D paper art. The kids class coincides with the headlining exhibit, so kids learn about the artist and medium represented in the gallery and create something inspired by what they see. In March, April and May, budding creatives explore Belgian artist and sculptor Isabelle de Borchgrave’s Miradas de Mujeres, a series of handpainted paper and cardboard sculptures depicting dresses, plants, decor and other pieces from Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s whimsical world. The nonprofit’s new director of education, Nicole Whalen, hopes the program creates opportunities for families to bond over fine art. “This type of artistic discourse between parent and child is rare in many households,” she says.