InsideOut Studio teaches art to kids at BTW Center in Hamilton

InsideOut is a studio for developmentally disabled artists that work in downtown Hamilton
The artists at InsideOut Studio in Hamilton have worked with students at the Booker T. Washington Center for the past few summers thanks to funding from the Hamilton Community Foundation. Pictured is Cam Squire, a direct support professional at InsideOut and course instructor, provides instruction to the students and artists at the beginning of the arts class on mosaics at the BTW Center on Monday, July 7, 2025. MICHAEL D. PITMAN/STAFF

Credit: Michael D. Pitman

Credit: Michael D. Pitman

The artists at InsideOut Studio in Hamilton have worked with students at the Booker T. Washington Center for the past few summers thanks to funding from the Hamilton Community Foundation. Pictured is Cam Squire, a direct support professional at InsideOut and course instructor, provides instruction to the students and artists at the beginning of the arts class on mosaics at the BTW Center on Monday, July 7, 2025. MICHAEL D. PITMAN/STAFF

The artists at InsideOut Studio are teaching the kids at the Booker T. Washington Center this summer how to create art.

But everyone is learning more than that, said Ebony Brock, executive director at the BTW Center on South Front Street. She said this multi-week summer partnership teaches that “everyone has a voice.”

“You look at everyone here, you see so many different people, from all various backgrounds, various ages, various cultures, but everybody is coming together to do art,” she said. “I think it speaks to how powerful art is.”

This is the third year for the summer program, which is part of the outreach for InsideOut Studio, and its parent organization, the non-profit Inspiration Studios, to have its developmentally disabled artists work out in the community, said Cam Squire, a direct support professional at InsideOut.

The artists at InsideOut Studio in Hamilton have worked with students at the Booker T. Washington Center for the past few summers thanks to funding from the Hamilton Community Foundation. Pictured is Liz Pfeiffer, an artist with InsideOut, working with Makaylee Miller, 6, at the BTW Center on Monday, July 7, 2025. MICHAEL D. PITMAN/STAFF

Credit: Michael D. Pitman

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Credit: Michael D. Pitman

“It’s so much fun, and it’s so fulfilling, not only to see the growth that they have in the studio, but to see them work on their own, independently,” said Squire, who supports the artists’ goals professionally and personally.

Artist Sarah Alward participated in only one of the classes last year, but has been able to be at more classes this summer.

“I’m having a lot of fun doing this,” said the painter. “I love teaching kids how to do art.”

This program is funded through the HIGHER Fund and Youth Philanthropy Committee grants at the Hamilton Community Foundation, and Brock would like to see arts programming grow, but that takes money.

“I think the more people see the reach and the impact that this has, the more people can get behind it,“ said Brock.

The artists at InsideOut Studio in Hamilton have worked with students at the Booker T. Washington Center for the past few summers thanks to funding from the Hamilton Community Foundation. Pictured are students working on mosaics at the BTW Center on Monday, July 7, 2025. MICHAEL D. PITMAN/STAFF

Credit: Michael D. Pitman

icon to expand image

Credit: Michael D. Pitman

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