How YMM Art Space Is Enlightening Children Through Art

YMM Art Space is an art education center for children whose mission is to nurture intellectual development and foster a child’s creative thinking ability, problem solving skills and confidence through self-expression. With this cross-disciplinary approach, children are more likely to succeed in whatever fields they choose to pursue as they grow up.

Luisa Vargas, director of art education and lead teacher at YMM Art Space, believes that every child should have the opportunity to get an art education. Her team of talented teachers all have diverse degrees in the arts and by sharing these talents with children, they are truly paving the way to a better tomorrow. Learn more about YMM Art Space and their upcoming events in this exclusive Patch one-on-one with Vargas:

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Vargas: YMM Art Space, Washington D.C. was founded in 2014 offering art programs for children ages 2 to 18 in our community.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Vargas: In 1999, when I was doing my internship in Clinical Psychology, I was assigned to work mostly with children and I started using art to build rapport with them. Immediately I learned how children connect and express themselves with art. Later, I decided to pursue my master in Art Therapy and since then, I haven’t stopped enjoying the power that art has for children to learn about the their world, connect to their emotions and communicate with others.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Vargas: Enlightening children through art making.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Vargas: My biggest challenge is to teach children who believe they are not good at creating art, but it is also the most rewarding when I get them to break out of their shell.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Vargas: What I enjoy the most is creating and embracing the mess in the art studio that comes from my students’ creative process.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Vargas: At YMM, we offer a continuous curriculum which has been carefully developed by experts to respond to children’s developmental stage.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Vargas: Create, adjust and move on.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Vargas: We recently became program partners with the Girl Scouts of the USA and we are excited to extensively support the Girl Scouts troops by offering special discounts to troop members and private workshops for them to earn their art badges.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Vargas: In May, we will be offering a field trip to the National Gallery of Art, a Mother’s Day Workshop and we will be at the Viva Vienna Fair offering a community art project for kids and family, and special discounts on our programs and camps. In June, we are offering a Father’s Day workshop, a sleepover at YMM, and a Free Summer Party. In July and August, we will be offering our summer camps and teen camps.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Vargas: You can visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Address: 8216 Old Courthouse Rd C, Vienna, VA 22182

Phone: (703) 942-8765

This Patch article is sponsored by YMM Art Space

Image Credit: YMM Art Space