Art Buddy Spotlight: Anna Thompson, Mentor/Advisory Board Member

Anna Thompson has enjoyed being an Art Buddies mentor and Advisory Board member for eight years (and counting!). Outside of Art Buddies she puts her creative talents into motion at Socially Smitten as a Social Marketing Account Manager and Illustrator.​​​  

What has been your most memorable Art Buddies experience?

Two years ago, I recruited my mom, a former art teacher and designer, to volunteer with Art Buddies. She hasn’t taught art in a long time, and she totally enjoyed it! Not only did she have fun with the kids, but it was a great bonding experience for us too.

Why did you decide to volunteer with Art Buddies?

I volunteered with Art Buddies back in 2007. At the time, I was still trying to figure out what exactly I was going to do for a “career." Art Buddies helps kids AND adults foster their creativity. Not long after that, I started my own Etsy business that I still have today. 

Define what one-on-one mentoring means to you and how it can impact the life of a child. 

Volunteering with Art Buddies has been incredibly rewarding. I have seen the difference one-on-one mentoring can make in a child’s life. Many of the kids in the Art Buddies program don’t get the chance to have an adult all to themselves, and I think they really crave that attention and need it to thrive. I love devoting a couple hours a week to one special kid and really letting them know that this is THEIR time. 

How do you feel the after-school combination of creativity and mentoring helps children with schoolwork?

From a personal experience, when I set aside time to be creative, it sparks creativity in other facets of my life too. Volunteering at Art Buddies mid-week revitalizes me and gets my creative juices flowing – those creative juices then spill back into my work and I feel renewed. I can only imagine that the same thing happens for our little Art Buddies. 

Have you gained new friendships or expanded your network as an Art Buddy?

I have definitely met some cool cats volunteering with Art Buddies. It’s always fun running into them at events (whether it’s an advertising convention, an art festival, or even just out and about!). I’ve found that my wealth of Art Buddies friends has grown considerably over the past years. It’s a great community.

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications every fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.  

Art Buddy Spotlight: Stuart Wainstock, Mentor/Advisory Board Member

Stuart Wainstock is a Digital Designer at Greenspring Media where he works with such esteemed publications like Minnesota Monthly and Midwest Home Magazine. He has been a valuable part of our Art Buddies mentorship program and Advisory Board for two years.

Photo courtesy Doug Knutson

How would you describe Art Buddies to someone who has never heard of the program?
Art Buddies is a one-on-one after-school mentoring program that allows you to step away from grownup meetings and emails and into the world of kids one day a week. You and your buddy will go from ideation to working concept in a matter of 8-10 weeks. Be prepared to get messy and have fun.

What has been your most memorable experience as an Art Buddies mentor? 
My second semester with Art Buddies was pretty great. My buddy came to the first session with a stack of books (he had participated previously) and wanted to sketch ideas immediately. We must have spent two sessions researching and prototyping before even cutting a piece of cardboard. By the end of the semester, my buddy had created an extremely elaborate storyline about a wizard who befriended little creatures in the forest. His costume and accessories reflected the awesomeness. 

Why did you decide to volunteer with Art Buddies?
I did my undergrad in Elementary Education and taught kindergarten for five years. When I moved to Minneapolis, I missed working with kids, and Art Buddies filled the void perfectly. The blend of creative mentoring and after-school education make coming back each semester feel like the first day of school. Being able to play with glitter and sparkles was also pretty appealing.

What advice would you give to rookie Art Buddies mentors?
Let your little buddy run the show. Be there as a facilitator/guide and let your buddy take it from there. No matter how much you want the costume to be your marvelous and amazing creation, let it come from your buddy, and it will be that much more meaningful. 

How do you feel the after-school combination of creativity and mentoring helps children with schoolwork? 
One of the best things about the combination is the spectrum of grownup buddies that participate in the program. From architects and real estate agents to art directors and industrial designers, kid buddies get first-hand insight into what it means to be creative in the work place. Students start to see how different elements of their school work can be applied in a creative way, and that helps to breakdown some of the stigmas of that school work. Helping to raise awareness of all the different ways someone can be creative helps put things in a different lens.

Photo courtesy Mike Habermann

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications every fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/. 

Volunteer to be an Art Buddy this fall!

We’re now recruiting creative mentors for our fall 2015 Art Buddies programs in Minneapolis and St. Paul. You must be over 18 years of age to apply.

Select one of our three after-school locations to apply:

> Mondays at Riverview West (St. Paul)
> Wednesdays at Bancroft (Minneapolis)
> Thursdays at Whittier (Minneapolis) -- FULL

[NOTE: Our Thursday program is currently full. You can still apply to be added to our wait list, or apply for one of our other program locations.]

Click here to learn more about being an Art Buddies mentor.

If you can’t volunteer this season, please join our mailing list to be notified about future volunteer opportunities. Thank you for helping empower kids with creativity!