KC artist imparts creative, commercial wisdom on kids
In May, Kansas City artist Vania Soto held a round of afterschool art classes for middle school age students in Kansas City, Kan.
Back by popular demand, Soto will offer the classes again starting July 2 at Vania’s Art Studio, 1017 N. 9th Street. The five-class Saturday sessions are open to students entering or leaving middle school.
Soto said her lessons are filling in the gaps left by school budget cuts that usually go for fine arts programs school. Art as an education requirement is becoming less common, according to her survey of the students.
“I tell them back when I was in school, you had to get a good grade in art to pass,” Soto said. “And they’re like, really?”
She’s drawing most of her students from the Kansas City Kansas school district, though some students have sought her classes from as far away as Olathe and Overland Park.
The first round of classes in May drew 8 students. The July classes have 12 young artists enrolled “so far,” Soto said adding students are welcome to join before Saturday. She will also offer the classes after school during the academic year starting this fall.
Soto has a long history of teaching young artists. She found the need for her current offering of art courses while visiting schools on behalf of Prep KC to talk to students about the artists’ career path. Soto is a commercially successful visual artist and designer.
“Going in to these school, I realized that a lot of these kids don’t have arts classes,” she said. “I thought oh my gosh, I need to get involved somehow.”
“I feel like someone … like myself (is one of) the only ones willing to work with these kids in need. I don’t see the government doing it. I feel like we are the answer to these underserved students.”
Soto’s art classes include instruction on selling the works and building a commercial presence through creative work.
The Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce hosted a formal ribbon cutting for Vania’s Art Studio June 16.
Chamber President Daniel Silva said the value proposition offered in art is intellectual and creative enrichment. As an organization interested in whole student development, Silva said art plays a critical piece in the long-term growth of the students in the chamber’s communities.
“If they’re able to enhance that critical thinking piece … I think it could prove very valuable to companies looking to hire employees,” Silva said.
Vania’s Art Studio continues to take students for the upcoming session of art courses as well as for classes during the school year. Registration is $10 per child. Registration is available online at vaniasoto.com/kids-art-class.
