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= Refuge Art School = Refuge Lowell is a safe space for artists to delve into visual self expression. The Studio is located at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts off of School Street.

Their Mission - "Refuge Lowell provides a safe, equitable space for local students to explore their talents and develop as artists through nurturing, mentorship, and rigorous arts instruction."

Refuge Art School
Founded in 2014 the Refuge Art School stated out as a literal 'refuge' for young aspiring artists that sought a space for guidance and direction. Throughout the years Refuge has grown and offers a multitude of different classes. Refuge Art School resides within Western Avenue Studios which originated from Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company. The Refuge has awarded over 750 scholarships since 2014. As Lowell is a gateway city 65 percent of students come from backgrounds of either BIPOC, Latinx, and asian communities. In 2023 Refuge moved from the first floor of Western Avenue Studios to the Second floor into a three part studio space.

Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company
The Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company was incorporated in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1891. They had mills in Salmon Falls, New Hampshire and built facilities for manufacturing on Central Street in Lowell during the earlier portion of the twentieth century. They specialized in railroad car upholstery which eventually led them into automobiles. They created natural and synthetic fabrics for Chrysler and others.

Western Avenue Studios
Western Avenue Studios came to be in 2005 and the space was shared with 35 artist studios and commercial tenants in 265,000 square feet of space. In 2012 every studio was artist occupied. Renovation on the building was also completed in 2012 allowing for 50 live and work lofts to be open. As of 2016 the entirety of Western Avenue campus had been renovated houses over 350 artists and The Navigation Brewing Company.

Co-Founder
Nikki Giraffo is the co-founder of Refuge Art School and has been a part of the Lowell community for over 10 years. She is a full time art educator that has taught in six different schools throughout the city of Lowell such as Lowell High School. Nikki, who is originally from New Jersey, received her bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Alfred University and her masters in the Arts of Teaching from Tufts University. Her first year in the Lowell Public Schools (LPS) she began identifying and recruiting artists from both LPS and her private school to attend in private instruction outside of the school. This is where Refuge began to come to fruition with Nikki teaching advanced art concepts from her kitchen in western avenue lofts. After a year her. and her partner struck a deal with Western Avenue Studios and got a space where The Refuge Art School would begin.

Classes
''The Refuge program is set up into 3 semesters. Those being Fall, Spring, and Summer. They run from 10-12 weeks for the Fall and Spring semester and all classes are in a three hour time frame.''

Portfolio Development
Portfolio development focuses on the fundamentals value, color, composition, and material application. This is all done through observational and still life work. The course is designed to help students develop a visual portfolio for either college admission or private school admission.

Ceramics
Ceramics leads students through the basics of ceramics. The class focuses on hand building, creating pieces with techniques such as pinch pots, coil building, and slab building. Students create both sculptural and visual art pieces.

Fine Arts for Middle Schoolers
Middle school students take part in cultivation person expression and creative problem solving. Throughout the course the young artists are introduced to contemporary artists while learning about various art mediums and techniques.

Black and White Film Photography
This class will help students learn the fundamentals of black and white photography. Students will learn to shoot on SLR film cameras and developing their film in a dark room. Key concepts that are taught in the course include the basics to film photography, the fundamentasl of taking successful photos and the exposer triangle.

Summer
Courses are rotated in and out every summer. Below is a sample list of previous courses offered.


 * Sketchbook to Sculpture
 * Watercolor: Controlled Chaos
 * Color and Painting
 * Intro to Silkscreen
 * Street Photography
 * Urban Sketching
 * Kids Camp
 * Intro to Short Form Film
 * Intro to Pottery
 * Pattern-Making

Projects
2017 - Permanent installation: Sundial and Bottle Water Bench in North Commons Park

2018 - Mural: Mill Girls at Western Avenue Studios outdoor patio

2018 - Mural: Mill City Grows Common Room

2019 - Mural: Bridging the Tracks

2019 - Installation: Growth Rings, Oscar Tuazon, Central Wharf Park

2019 - Mural: Elevating Cultural Identity installed in Mill No. 5, Lowell

2021- Installation: What Do We Have In Common? Janet Zweig, Boston Commons

Team
John Haiduk - Community Events Volunteer and Systems/Data Tracking

Kat Keenan - Sculpture Media Instructor and Refuge Art School Alumni

Maritza Lezama - Middle School Instructor and Lead Studio Intern

Henry Marte - Guest Instructor and Studio Photographer

Sorieya Mao - Co-Instructor, Studio Intern and Refuge Art School Student

4 Nichols - Co-Founder, Woodworking Intern Supervisor and Refuge Space Maker

Sarah Santiago - Special Projects and Community Events Volunteer

Megan Steward - Studio Intern and Refuge Art School Alumni

Courtney Wilson - Portfolio Instructor and Marketing & Media Manager

Jenyuine Yu - Community Events Volunteer

Malakai Xayadeth-Nou - Open Studio Coordinator and Refuge Art School Student