QUINCY — The Quincy Art Center hosted two area high school students as youth employees over the some as part of the Illinois Arts Council's Summer Youth Employment Program. Ivy Liesen, a 17-year-old Central High Student and Grace Messan, 17, of QHS played significant roles in the education department at the Art Center, assisting with youth classes and community outreach initiatives. "As a former high school art teacher myself, getting the chance to work with high school students again was wonderful," Art Center Director of Education Rachel Roundtree said.
"Grace and Ivy were integral parts of our summer camp and community outreach programs. They both brought so much spirit and great work ethic to the table, and I wish them all the best as they go into their senior years of high school." Liesen comes from a rural area where he family runs a cattle farm.
With passions for mixed media art, photography, and literature, Liesen took naturally to the creative environment of the Art Center. Working closely with the education team, she supervised art classes for children including preparing materials and taking inventory. Messan started her connection with the Art Center as a child taking classes.
She worked alongside the education department to help foster the love of arts in the students and encouraging more participation by young artists. "It is really satisfying to watch our interns' skills grow as they foster the development of artistic engagement in the youth who take classes .