UNLEASHING YOUNG CREATIVITY: GOGO MOAD PROGRAM

New GOGO MOAD membership offers different supplies and other perks each month.
Image courtesy of MOAD at MDC.

Some children will create the first line of their autobiographies and design their own books, while others will draw inspiration from the giant flower performances on stilts by the Australian group Sway. They may also have the opportunity to recreate the architectural structure designed by Germane Barnes, which is inspired by the weave of an African basket. These are some of the activities offered by the GOGO MOAD program for kids and families, provided by the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College.

Starting this year, MOAD offers children the option to become a member of this program, which includes additional art materials and special gift items. “Our goal is really to get people interested in art and ensure that people are invested in the arts, especially the next generation,” said Jennifer Weinberg, Marketing and Membership Manager of the museum. This way, the program seeks to transform how children engage with creativity and their community.

The program aims to cultivate an early appreciation and connection to visual arts. It’s good to start early because, as poet Maya Angelou once said, “you can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

GOGO MOAD hosts Surfside Under the Stars. Photo courtesy of MOAD at MDC.

Children that are members can collect different supplies each month and enjoy other perks, including a special invitation to a bonus, members-only GOGO MOAD session.

“We wanted to elevate that experience to the next level by introducing a membership to encourage kids at a young age to develop a connection with art,” Weinberg adds. “So, at each event, they’ll receive a piece of either swag or an art supply exclusive for members only. At the end, there will be one members-only event where they will use the supplies they get to create a piece of their own.” This approach fosters a sense of belonging and pride in their creative efforts.

Some activities include movie nights, screen-printed tote bags that members can personalize, art-making aprons, watercolors, air-dry clay, t-shirts, among others. “Arts and arts education are really important to us, and it’s important to create little philanthropists,” says Weinberg. “I think that’s kind of where we’re coming from, is creating the next generation of people who love the arts and love the arts enough to support the arts and education.” Jessica Wade Pfeffer, president of JWI PR, the communication agency that promoted the program, adds that its goal is to “support and nurture” the emergence of this new generation of young philanthropists.

The program takes place in various areas of Miami-Dade County, through guidance from a teaching artist. Beginning in October, GOGO MOAD will be led by artist and art teacher Lorie Ofir, whose body of work explores landscapes and connections with human nature.

GOGO MOAD offers activities every month aimed at children aged 5 to 14, but the whole family can enjoy it as well. Weinberg notes that these family-friendly activities give the kids a sense of accomplishment because they can take home something they can use permanently.

“We think that membership makes it closer to your heart, and you’re more invested as a part of the community. Kids are the next generation, so it’s great to get them involved, committed, and interested in the arts at a young age,” Weinberg adds.

GOGO MOAD Membership program, planned to begin in October, is priced $60 per child for all activities throughout the year. Memberships are available on the MOAD website at moadmdc.org.

ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Don’t miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com.