Cincinnati, Ohio – The Ohio Art Education Association presented the Fitton Center for Creative Arts its Regional Service Award, naming it a Distinguished Business for Art Education during its 2023 Southwest Region awards ceremony.
The OAEA presented the awards Thursday, October 26, at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning.
“This highlights our commitment to supporting the arts and art teachers in the area,” said Kate Rowekamp, Fitton Center Director of Education and Outreach. “It’s nice to be recognized like this. Our teachers do a great job not only teaching their specific classes, but also inspiring creativity beyond our classrooms and studios.”
The Fitton Center regularly employes about 20 art teachers on site for every six-week class session. The Fitton Center also supplies art teachers for community outreach partners like Booker T. Washington Community Center, InReturn, Best Point and Boys & Girls Clubs of Hamilton.
They teach a broad spectrum of classes and workshops. For example, the Fall II education session beginning Monday, October 30, includes more than two dozen different offerings for ages ranging from elementary school to senior citizen.
Professional educators make a difference.
“They help us ensure a level of quality,” Rowekamp said. “Our students take away a high level of instruction that they might not otherwise be able to get. We’re very proud of the quality of our education programs.”
One of those professional educators took home an award of her own.
Jamie Schorsch – who teaches the Fitton Center’s Watercolor Basics class for ages 18 and up in the Fall II session – earned the OAEA Secondary Education Award for her work at Oak Hills High School.
The OAEA is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators in Ohio. Members include elementary, middle, and high school visual arts educators; college and university professors; researchers and scholars; teaching artists; administrators and supervisors; and art museum educators.
According to its website, OAEA’s mission is “to build a community for visual art educators by promoting professional growth and leadership.”
For a complete list of 2023 award recipients, please visit the OAEA site right here.
The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.
Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture
