Michigan 4-H Creative Arts Celebration Workshop a success

Participants learned about visual arts, crafts, sewing and textile projects at the 2019 Michigan 4-H Creative Arts Celebration Workshop.

Special Chinese children’s artwork piece
Special Chinese children’s artwork piece, “Binzhou, What A Beautiful City!” displayed at the 4-H Kettunen Center in 2017. Photo by Jan Brinn, MSU Extension.

The Michigan 4-H Creative Arts Celebration Workshop (formerly the 4-H Visual Arts, Crafts, Sewing and Textile workshop), held at the beautiful 4-H Kettunen Center in Tustin, Michigan, Oct. 19-20, 2019, was a success with participants learning visual arts, crafts, sewing and textile projects. Over 100 participants attended the workshop, including youth and 4-H members ages 12–19 (as of Jan. 1) and volunteers interested in the creative arts.

Many sessions were offered at the workshop including 4-H performing arts, 4-H visual arts and sewing and textiles. Participants learned new things, made new friends, put all their creativity to work and had a fabulous time. The workshop goal was for all the participants to gain valuable resources and skills and share them with their home counties. 

Group photo
The 2020 participants including guest 4-H staff from Taiwan. Photo by Jan Brinn, MSU Extension.

The collected evaluations showed that the workshop was a success. A few positive comments included:

  • “I look forward to this every year, I gain so much knowledge and new craft ideas to take to my club.”
  • “Loved all my sessions, instructors were amazing and I learned so much, can't wait to share with my county.”
  • “Learned a variety of crafts that can be taught to different age groups.”
Youth participant
Proud participant showing his project. Photo by Jan Brinn, MSU Extension.

Special additions to the workshop is the annual silent auction and fabric sale with raised funds going to the 2020 workshop scheduled for Oct. 17-18, and the 4-H Exploration Days state awards. The long 4-H China Art artwork, featured in the Michigan State University Extension article, “Michigan 4-H receives special gift of artwork from China,” that proudly displayed at the 2017 workshop will be brought back for all to see.

The Michigan 4-H Creative Arts Celebration Workshop was successful in growing creativity, life skills, friendships, fun and more.

Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Youth Development program help to prepare youth as positive and engaged leaders and global citizens by providing educational experiences and resources for youth interested in developing knowledge and skills in these areas.

Other global educational opportunities can be found on the MSU Extension Global and Cultural Education website. For more information about 4-H learning opportunities and other 4-H programs, contact your local MSU Extension office.

Did you find this article useful?