Youth Classes

Imagine Studio

Imagine Studio is a thoughtfully designed creative space for young children and their adults, focusing on imaginative play and artmaking. This one-of-a-kind studio is now free and open to the public during regular Center hours.

10am-5pm | Monday- Friday

*Toddlers and elementary school children

Art in the Afternoon

Spring Semester | Jan 13 – May 14, 2026

Weekly | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 3:30 – 5:00pm

Students will build skills in visual, printmaking and performing arts over the course of a semester. Whether your child is a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, these classes offer a welcoming space to discover the joy of creating all types of art. Bus transportation from Thomasville City and Thomas County schools can also be arranged. There is a separate registration fee for each class.

Members | $150 (per semester)

Non-members | $175

Fall Semester Schedule:

Tuesday | Grades K – 2 | Performing Arts I

Tuesday | Grades 3 – 5 | Printmaking Plus I

Wednesday | Grades 3 – 5 | Visual Art I | Drawing

Thursday | Grades 3 – 5 | Performing Arts II

Thursday | Grades 6-12 | Performing Arts Club

Thursday | Grades 6 – 8 | Printmaking Plus II

*A limited number of scholarships are available.

Performing Arts I & II| K-5

Instructor: Hananel Mavity Jackson | Jan 13 – May 14, 2026
Performing Arts I | Grades K – 2 | Tuesdays, 3:30 – 5:00 pm

Students will be trained and entertained as they explore the fundamentals of performing through the magic of musical theatre. Singing, dancing, and acting lessons are seamlessly woven into the weekly rehearsals, making learning dynamic and fun. Performing Arts I students will have the exciting opportunity to be featured in TCA’s Community Musical during Youth Arts Month in March 2026.

Performing Arts II | Grades 3 – 5 | Thursdays 3:30 – 5:00pm

For students passionate and eager to excel in musical theatre, PA II offers advanced training designed to elevate their performance skills to a competitive level — all while having a great time! This class directly feeds into TCA’s Community Musical, with every PA II student featured in the ensemble. Under the guidance of a highly experienced instructor, students will not only perform but also build a polished audition repertoire to prepare them for future opportunities. Expect hard work, growth, and lots of fun along the way!

Performing Arts Club | Grades 6 – 12 | Thursdays 5 – 6:30pm

Students who join the Club will focus on a variety of theatrical disciplines, including acting, directing, stage management, and playwriting with Hananel Mavity Jackson throughout the school year, allowing participants to express themselves and develop their skills. She encourages creativity and self-expression, offering a supportive atmosphere where members can share their ideas and work on projects together. Through these experiences, participants often form lasting friendships and develop a love for the arts that can influence their future endeavors. Opportunities for leadership, such as choreographing or managing the technical aspects of a production, empower members to take initiative and grow in their roles. Each member of TCA’s Performing Arts Club will participate in the Community Musical under Hananel’s direction.

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Performing Arts I

Performing Arts II

Performing Arts Club

About the Instructor

Hananel is a passionate theatre practitioner and true renaissance creative who lives and breathes the magic of the stage. Guided by advocacy, levity, and compassion, she champions the healing power of artistic expression in every aspect of her work.

A proud graduate of Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and Dance—earned with her daughter in the audience and her son on the way—Hananel has since honed her expertise in production design, music direction, play analysis, and theatre management.

Beyond the stage, Hananel is a beloved recording artist and vocal talent in the community, with an independently produced album that showcases her artistic range. She now brings her passion, creativity, and experience to her role as the Art in the Afternoon Performing Arts instructor, inspiring students to express themselves through the transformative power of theatre.

Visual Art | Grades 3 – 5

Instructor: Lanell Shen | Jan 13 – May 14, 2026
Wednesdays | 3:30 – 5:00 pm

This comprehensive art curriculum for Grades 3–5 focuses on core artistic skills, creative exploration, and foundational drawing techniques—all in a fun, encouraging environment. Students will dive into art history and make exciting interdisciplinary connections that spark curiosity and creativity. Guided by experienced and engaging instructor Lanell Shen, young artists will build confidence while having fun and developing their own unique artistic voice.

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About the Instructor

Lanell Shen was born on a zucchini farm in Grand Junction, Colorado, and joined the Navy at 17, serving as a Hospital Corpsman and Surgical Technologist. Her service took her to Guam, where she lived and traveled for five years. In 2016, Lanell settled in Valdosta, Georgia, and began oil painting at the Turner Center for the Arts. Eight years later, her dedication to the arts led her to join Curate Collective, a gallery and studio in downtown Valdosta, where she now works and exhibits her work.

Lanell’s unique path—rooted in discipline, curiosity, and creative growth—makes her a thoughtful, skilled, and inspiring Art in the Afternoon visual arts instructor.

Printmaking Plus I & II

Jan 13 – May 14, 2026

Printmaking Plus I | Grades 3-5 | Tuesdays 3:30-5:00pm

Printmaking Plus II | Grades 6 – 8 | Thursdays 3:30-5:00pm

This fall, Printmaking Plus attendees will experience a series of youth classes that use science, technology, engineering and mathematics to create bigger, better, and more exciting art projects! As well as building on critical thinking skills, these classes will show
students how knowledge from different areas can be put together to make
beautiful art! We will learn about color and texture through interesting science
experiments such as slime making, structural strength in constructed forms with
engineering such as mask making, and repetition and measurement with math
in activities like pattern creation in printmaking.

Printmaking Plus I

Printmaking Plus II