Dunedin Fine Art Center

The Adult Education program at the Dunedin Fine Art Center (DFAC) offers engaging and innovative educational experiences for our community. An award-winning group of instructors provides individualized guidance in an inclusive and supportive environment, encouraging students to reach their full creative potential.In addition to traditional offerings such as painting, drawing, and ceramics, DFAC features specialized studios for jewelry, printmaking, fiber arts, and food arts. The center encompasses 21 studios across two campuses in Dunedin. Classes are offered year-round through seven six-week terms, along with a variety of individual workshops. DFAC also has the unique ability to host nationally renowned artists for workshops throughout the year, often in conjunction with gallery exhibitions or in partnership with local artist groups.To welcome new students and showcase its programs, DFAC also hosts an annual Adult Education Open House each winter. This event invites visitors to meet instructors, observe studio demonstrations, and experience firsthand what it is like to take a class at the center. In addition, DFAC offers a popular monthly Coffee and Conversation series, sponsored by the Sterling Society, DFAC's auxiliary group. These sessions feature instructors and local artists who share insights into their work, career paths, and creative techniques.DFAC is deeply committed to fostering the connection between creative expression and healthy aging. Many senior students value the mental stimulation, creative engagement, and strong sense of community found in DFAC classes. Through its Arts & Wellness programming, the center offers guided art practices designed to support overall wellbeing. Ongoing research continues to demonstrate that participation in the arts can enhance quality of life, reduce loneliness, lower the risk of depression, and help decrease the risk of dementia across a wide range of individuals.

Besides educational outreach programs for local charter/ private schools and organizations like Safety Harbor Montessori and Academie DaVinci, the children and teen program follows the same schedule as the adult program, except for June - August, when a 10-week intensive Summer enrichment art academy program for children ages 4.5 to 14 is held. During the summer program, 7 different weekly camps which focus on photography, clay (hand building and wheel), 3D, 2D (drawing and painting), iPad Explorations, murals and musical theater are offered to age-appropriate groupings in weeklong sessions. DFAC has up to 180 children per week and employs certified teachers/ art teachers, DFAC Instructors, degreed working artists, and professionals working in the arts from the Tampa Bay area. At the close of Summer, a Summer Art Academy Exhibit is held in our Kokolakis Family Youth Gallery in part curated by the children, for the children. Close to 50 different schools are represented in our Summer Camp exhibit. DFAC's Youth Education Department also hosts our annual "Kidsfest" in conjunction with the Summer Camp Exhibit opening. This event brings in 300-500 visitors each year and is joined by the Kiwanis Club of Dunedin to provide Hotdogs, chips and drinks at no cost. Dedicated Youth Gallery: Kokolakis Youth Gallery is used exclusively for children's artwork from 4.5-17 years. DFAC partners with the Pinellas County School District's Visual Arts Supervisor to provide 4 exhibits annually featuring 75 Elementary schools, 19 Middle schools and 13 High schools. DFAC also partners with the City of Dunedin and the Dunedin Principals' Consortium to provide the Dunedin Schools Showcase exhibit featuring the youth's artwork created in Dunedin. These are wonderful events to attend to share the excitement and joy with the young Artists and their families.Youth/Adult Clay Lab: DFAC has 3 clay labs: 1 for wheel use only, 1 for hand-building only and 1 for use of wheel and hand-building. Specific times, days and classes are scheduled in clay labs for Youth Education use only as the adults are scheduled in adjoining clay labs and on schedules not affecting youth use. David L. Mason (DLM) Children's Hands-On Museum: A big part of our Youth Education Program is the Children's Hands-On Art Museum. This space gives children the opportunity to explore the different media used in art from pastels to electronic graphics and even a Green Screen theater space. The current Children's Hands-On exhibit is titled "Wacky Weather". This interactive experience combines a multitude of hands-on, interactive experiences. Use your imagination while giving the local weather report, building an icy environment for our cold weather animal friends, performing on the Green Screen, open ended art at our create table and much more. Free Family Nights are also offered October-May at no cost for families to enjoy extended hours in our DLM Museum. School Tours: DFAC's 2-hour tour consists of 3 components: 1) Students start with a 30-40 minute engaging gallery discussion and on-site tour. 2) Students proceed to the hands-on interactive area where they explore, create and build on concepts and images from the original artworks seen in the galleries. Time in the hands-on area is 30-45 minutes. 3) Tour concludes with students gathering in the art studio for a teacher directed, exhibit related activity involving imagination and motor skills. Also, due to this year's grant funding, provided by the Pinellas Community Foundation, the no cost student tours and bus reimbursement program was implemented to provide a further reach to our Pinellas County students and schools.Birthday Parties: 5 Youth Education birthday party options are provided for ages 5-17.