Art League OC offering free summer programs, expanding footprint in community

OCEAN CITY, Md. – If you’re headed to Ocean City this summer, you’ll find most of the foot traffic at the boardwalk.

Yet, the Art League of Ocean City is on a mission to prove that isn’t the only thing the resort town has to offer. “It makes Ocean City an exemplary, top-notch destination to have the arts as part of its offering,” Art League OC Executive Director Rina Thaler said.

“Over 140,000 people have visited us here at the Ocean City Center for the Arts to visit the exhibits or engage in classes.”

In an effort to increase engagement in the arts, The non-profit now offers free summer programs which includes children’s craft projects and guided gallery tours. “It’s our way of bringing new people into the art center and allowing them to engage with art while they’re here on vacation,” Thaler said.

“We take visitors through the gallery and explain what’s going on here and what the exhibitions are that particular month because exhibitions change every month,” Tour Instructor Cassie Wait said.

It’s not just visitors coming through the doors, as many artists make their way to the center.  They’re even given the opportunity to rent a space to network and showcase their talent. “It’s helpful to have because if they don’t have their own studio to show their work to the public they can always come here,” Wait said.

Many stories, visions, and colors later Executive Director Rina Thaler says the non-profit is now grounded in the community. “So whether its public art projects, working in undeserved populations such as title 1 schools or out with undeserved clients in different agencies,” Thaler said.

“We’ll accept anyone who’s passionate about it,” Wait said.

That new programming runs every weekend throughout the rest of the summer with the guided tours Sundays at 1p.m.

The children’s craft project subject changes weekly and is held Saturdays at 11a.m.