Business Details
Your Center for Arts Education and Performance in Willoughby, OH
The Fine Arts Association is dedicated to fostering a community empowered by the arts through transformative education and performance experiences. Since our founding, we have provided exemplary instruction in visual arts, dance, theatre, music, and creative arts therapies, guided by a professional faculty of teaching artists. Our mission to 'Create and Discover Beauty' drives our commitment to artistic excellence, inclusivity, and community engagement.We offer customized off-site educational programs, summer camps, and performance opportunities that cater to individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels. Through scholarships, sensory-friendly performances, and partnerships with local organizations, we ensure accessibility to the arts for all members of our community.
Services
Dance Classes
Music Lessons
Theatre Programs
Visual Arts
Creative Arts Therapies
Summer Camps
Private Instruction
Performance Series
Scholarships
Off-site Education
Highlights and features
- We are a nationally recognized cultural center with 80+ years of artistic excellence.
- Our professional faculty includes certified teaching artists with industry expertise.
- We offer inclusive programs for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
- Customized off-site arts education reaches underserved community populations.
- Sensory-friendly performances and adaptive creative arts therapies for special needs.
Services
Dance Classes
We offer comprehensive dance education in multiple styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. Our programs cater to preschoolers through adults with both recreational and pre-professional tracks. Classes focus on technical skill development, artistic expression, and performance opportunities.
Music Lessons
Private music lessons are available for all skill levels from preschoolers to seniors. We teach brass, percussion, piano, strings, voice, and woodwinds with customized curricula. Our instructors emphasize both technical proficiency and musical interpretation.
Theatre Programs
Our theatre department provides acting classes, youth camps, and full-scale productions. Programs develop performance skills through scene study, musical theatre, and improvisation while emphasizing collaboration and creative storytelling techniques.
Creative Arts Therapies
Specialized therapeutic programs use visual arts, music, dance, and drama to support individuals with disabilities. Sessions are facilitated by licensed therapists focusing on emotional expression, social skills, and sensory integration in a supportive environment.
Summer Camps
Week-long summer camps combine multiple art forms for ages 3-18. Themes range from Disney-inspired adventures to technical skill-building workshops. Camps include performance opportunities, creative projects, and age-appropriate instruction across all artistic disciplines.
People
Paul Holm
CEO
Paul Holm leads The Fine Arts Association with over 20 years of experience in arts administration. He oversees strategic planning, community partnerships, and educational programming development while maintaining strong financial stewardship of the organization.
Sandy K. Peck
Camp Director
Sandy K. Peck directs our theatre education programs with expertise in youth performance training. She develops curriculum for acting intensives and summer camps, focusing on character development, audition preparation, and scene study techniques.
Caitlin Van Niel
Visual Arts Instructor
Caitlin Van Niel specializes in textile arts education, teaching sewing and crafting techniques to youth and teens. Her hands-on approach emphasizes project-based learning with small class sizes to ensure individualized attention and skill mastery.
Questions
How do I register for arts classes?
Registration is available online through our Jackrabbit system, by phone during business hours, or in-person at our customer service center with advance appointment.
Are payment plans available for programs?
Yes, we offer monthly payment options for tuition over $200 with five equal installments for fall and spring semesters.
Do you offer financial assistance?
We provide needs-based scholarships, dedication scholarships, and music achievement awards to ensure accessibility for all interested participants.
What safety measures are in place for youth programs?
All staff undergo background checks with mandatory reporting training. Summer camps maintain 1:6 staff-to-camper ratios with emergency medical protocols established.
Are performances accessible for patrons with disabilities?
We offer sensory-friendly performances with adjusted lighting/sound, open doors, and quiet areas staffed by trained volunteers for neurodiverse audiences.
Reviews (5)
Jonathan Wade
Feb 27, 2024
Report
This is a very well run organization. Very friendly and accommodating. They are very focused on discovering how art benefits families, communities, and society in general. I highly recommend the Fine Arts Association of Willoughby.
Heather Skye
May 24, 2022
Report
I've been taking ceramic classes here for years. The programs offered, the staff, the atmosphere, all excellent.
Rebecca McFarland
Jan 16, 2022
Report
The theater is beautiful and the sound is terrific with the way the interior wood is designed. Very comfortable!
Dana T.
Dec 10, 2021
Report
Every time I've attended a show at The Fine Arts Association it has always been worth the ticket price. The actors are phenomenal and if you stay to meet them after the show they're all so nice and you can tell how much they care.
Allan Turner Alz Pc Genius
Jul 29, 2021
Report
I experienced my first play here the other day. The staff and volunteers were all very nice. The theatre itself was cozy and inviting and the play was fantastic! I definitely will come back again!
