ABOUT
MISSION
Our Mission is to offer affordable, top-notch after school fine art classes and summer art camps for prepared K-12 students with the goal of supporting young Artists in acquiring the skills necessary to express their own unique ideas more fluently through visual art. We are a federally-recognized 501(c)3 organization and Foundation 11 Art School. We rely on tuition, grants and donations to operate programs.
Our Mission is to offer affordable, top-notch after school fine art classes and summer art camps for prepared K-12 students with the goal of supporting young Artists in acquiring the skills necessary to express their own unique ideas more fluently through visual art. We are a federally-recognized 501(c)3 organization and Foundation 11 Art School. We rely on tuition, grants and donations to operate programs.
OUR VALUES
- Individual Worth & Inclusion
- Community
- Affordability & Scholarship
- Excellent Art Instruction
HISTORY
Fine Art Starts was founded in 1997 by Sascha Gordon (now Newell). The first studio classroom was located in Bolton Plaza in West Linn until 2002. The art school moved to Oregon City and partnered with the City of Oregon City beginning in 2005. The historic Carnegie Center became Fine Art Starts' home for three years.
Fine Art Starts directed and ran arts and cultural events for the city through their unique partnership which included collaboration with Concerts in the Park, public exhibitions and welcoming visitors to the city's jewel building, surrounding park and water fountain area. Sascha also curated a professional gallery and coffee shop within the Carnegie which exhibited local and nationally-recognized artists while Fine Art Starts offered classes, workshops and events for the community.
Beginning in 2013, the Fine Art Starts program became more mobile and accessible to public, charter and private schools in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. The physical art studio classroom was closed and Sascha, along with other professional artists and teachers, began to go directly out to schools and outdoor locations to share the joy of art with kids. This helped the program become more accessible to students by carrying out the program in a more convenient location for families.
In March of of 2020 (at the beginning of Covid), online programs were offered on zoom to allow continued access to fine art education for kids while following recommended safety guidelines related to the pandemic. Beginning in the fall of 2022, classes returned to the in-person format and the program is currently rebuilding to meet the growing interest after the pandemic.
Fine Art Starts was founded in 1997 by Sascha Gordon (now Newell). The first studio classroom was located in Bolton Plaza in West Linn until 2002. The art school moved to Oregon City and partnered with the City of Oregon City beginning in 2005. The historic Carnegie Center became Fine Art Starts' home for three years.
Fine Art Starts directed and ran arts and cultural events for the city through their unique partnership which included collaboration with Concerts in the Park, public exhibitions and welcoming visitors to the city's jewel building, surrounding park and water fountain area. Sascha also curated a professional gallery and coffee shop within the Carnegie which exhibited local and nationally-recognized artists while Fine Art Starts offered classes, workshops and events for the community.
Beginning in 2013, the Fine Art Starts program became more mobile and accessible to public, charter and private schools in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. The physical art studio classroom was closed and Sascha, along with other professional artists and teachers, began to go directly out to schools and outdoor locations to share the joy of art with kids. This helped the program become more accessible to students by carrying out the program in a more convenient location for families.
In March of of 2020 (at the beginning of Covid), online programs were offered on zoom to allow continued access to fine art education for kids while following recommended safety guidelines related to the pandemic. Beginning in the fall of 2022, classes returned to the in-person format and the program is currently rebuilding to meet the growing interest after the pandemic.
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THE FOUNDER
Sascha Newell has a BFA in Visual Art and Master's Degree in Teaching. She has taught fine art to children and adults since 1997, and was one of three nominees for the 2021 Educator of the Year Award for the state of Oregon. Find Sascha's resume HERE. Sascha established Fine Art Starts in 1997 to fulfill a gap in affordable, equitable, high quality fine arts education. In the late 90’s, art programs began to see budget cuts, school-based art programs were dismantling, and a gap became evident. Sascha believed children deserved to have access to a high-quality fine arts education provided through small group instruction taught by excellent artists and teachers. |
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CURRENTLY
Fine Art Starts offers after school classes during the school year, fine arts camps in the summer, artist residencies and collaboration with public, private and charter schools and is seeking more connections with other non-profit organizations.
Fine Art Starts offers after school classes during the school year, fine arts camps in the summer, artist residencies and collaboration with public, private and charter schools and is seeking more connections with other non-profit organizations.
Board of Directors:
Sascha Newell (Executive Director)
Chris Newell (Accessibility Coordinator)
Nina Manning (Board Member)
Pranaw Bajracharya (IT Specialist)
Monica Baker (Secretary)
Current Teaching Staff: Sascha Newell, Nina Manning, Zaza Jeffers and Adam Strickler are current teaching staff. Many qualified volunteers from Jesuit High School and background-checked/trained parent volunteers at MITCH Charter School and Valley Catholic Elementary School join to help during class times as well.
Sascha Newell (Executive Director)
Chris Newell (Accessibility Coordinator)
Nina Manning (Board Member)
Pranaw Bajracharya (IT Specialist)
Monica Baker (Secretary)
Current Teaching Staff: Sascha Newell, Nina Manning, Zaza Jeffers and Adam Strickler are current teaching staff. Many qualified volunteers from Jesuit High School and background-checked/trained parent volunteers at MITCH Charter School and Valley Catholic Elementary School join to help during class times as well.
Where we've been...HAlameda Elementary Alliance Charter Academy Ardenwald Elementary Bolton School Byrom Elementary Carnegie Center Cedaroak Elementary Charles F. Tigard Elementary Christ the King School City of Oregon City Parks and Recreation City of Tualatin: Art Splash Clackamas Academy of Industrial Science (CAIS) Eastham Community School Franciscan Montessori Earth School Grace Christian Elementary Happy Valley Elementary Happy Valley Middle School Hiteon Public School Holy Cross School HOPE Chinese Charter School Jackson Middle School Jesuit High School John McLoughlin Elementary Kelly Elementary School KinderCare LinkUp Marylhurst Early Childhood Center MITCH Charter School Molalla River Academy Pacific NW Academy Park Place Elementary Parrot Creek Ranch Richmond Elementary Riverdale School Rose Haven Women's Shelter Rosemont Middle School TAG Program in Oregon City TAG Program in Portland Touchstone Elementary School Two Rivers Montessori Scouter's Mountain Elementary Seth Lewelling Elementary Siletz Tribal Youth Program St Ignatius School St John the Apostle School Stephenson Elementary Sunstone Montessori Valley Catholic Elementary Willamette Primary Wilsonville Senior Center |
Partnerships and Grants
Fine Art Starts has partnered with other programs to provide Artist Residencies, Art Instruction, materials and Art Shows throughout the years, with and for the following groups:
-Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation Grant recipient for three years of general operation funding. 2024-26 -Regional Arts & Culture Council Grant recipient to begin Digital Arts Program starting in the summer of 2024 -City of Oregon City, Parks and Recreation Department and Fine Art Starts partnered to continue public access to art, music and community events at the Carnegie Center. 2007-2010 -Alliance Charter Academy and Fine Art Starts partnered to fulfill need for fine art education to home school families. -Clackamas County Arts Alliance and Fine Art Starts partnered to fulfill a PICA grant to extend Graphic Novel Course at Parrott Creek Ranch, OR. 2012-2013 -Rose Haven and Fine Art Starts partnered to fulfill a grant received by Rose Haven to provide art classes for women and their children in crisis. 2012 -TAG (Talented and Gifted Program) at Kelly Elementary School and Fine Arts Starts partnered to provide art class opportunities to low income gifted students. 2012 |
It is a policy and priority of Fine Art Starts that there is no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation in any educational programs, activities or employment.