Term 1 of the 2011-12 school year of The Orange Beach Arts Center’s (OBAC) After School Arts Program (ASAP) is set for Aug. 15-Sept. 23.

ASAP is a limited enrollment program designed to supplement children’s education with the best arts education possible. Individual attention is a hallmark of ASAP as children are guided through a broad spectrum of artistic educational experiences. Qualified instructors recognize  and value the natural creative talents of each child, taking them  beyond the limited offerings of public education.

Island Voices, a Children’s Performance Choir, is new to ASAP this year. Led by Gay James, Ryan England and Tim Brannan, classes will be on Wednesday afternoons. James, England, and Brannan, all three teachers in Baldwin County schools, will use a team approach in leading the group, and are looking forward to melding their specialties to “grow” Island Voices into a true community performance choir.

The following classes will be taught from Aug. 15 – Sept. 23.

Monday: Public Art/Creative Writing. Explore the Backcountry Trail, then help design and create a fused glass totem pole of trail flora and fauna of that will be installed on the trail. This will be a 12-week class, taught by OBAC Children’s Education Administrator Belinda Butler. Butler is a textile artist and former English teacher and corporate trainer.  Under her direction, the Public Art/Creative Writing class created Fin the Dog, a statue that now greets visitors to Unleashed, the Orange Beach Dog Park, during the 2010-11 school year.

Tuesday:  Pastels. Explore the medium and art of drawing with soft pastels and, step-by-step, create a complete artwork in each class. Tommy Vogel, an accomplished local artist and former Summer Arts Camp instructor, will be teaching this class both for ASAP and for the Home School Art classes offered at OBAC.

Wednesday: Island Voices (Children’s Performance Choir). Sing! Move! This class presents an opportunity for Pleasure Island children to learn to sing and perform in our community. Gay James, Ryan England, and Tim Brannan will be the team leading this class, which will become an ongoing class on Wednesday afternoons.

Thursday: Graphic Arts. Investigate and explore color, form, and lines and how they interact with one another. Students will design their own logos, posters and more.  Shaun Conroy, who holds a degree in graphic arts from Pensacola Christian College and is employed by the David L. Bodenhamer Center, will teach this class.

Friday: ASAP Theatre Troupe. The Theatre Troupe will present “The Aristocats” at the Orange Beach Arts Festival in March 2012. Auditions are 13-14 August from 3:00-5:00 p.m. each day. To make an audition appointment, call 251-981.2787, or send email to artedobac@gmail.com.  Grace Stanton, who is a Troy University Theatre Education graduate, is the director of the Theatre Troupe. Katy Price, with more than 15 years’ experience in show and children’s choirs, is the music director. Stanton and Price focus on giving every child the opportunity to develop a love for drama and theatre, and believe that skills acquired through performing help children learn courage and confidence.

Classes are offered to first though sixth graders each school day from 3 pm- 6 pm each school day, with the  calendar matching the Baldwin Co. Public Schools calendar. Transportation to OBAC from both Gulf Shores Elementary and Orange Beach Elementary School is available and students may enroll at ASAP for one or more days per week. The fee is $10 per day or $40 per week for full time students.

ASAP is supported by a grant from The Alabama State Council on the Arts, and by The Friends of the Arts. For additional information or to register, Come by OBAC at 26389 Canal Road, call 251-981-2787, or send email to artedobac@gmail.com.