By Carly Shaia

Special to The Farmville Herald

Glue, glitter, pom-poms, and colorful construction paper covered the decorated tables as children and their parents traveled around the room creating new pieces of art.

The line for face painting circled the room, and grandparents chased after their bundles carrying snacks and projects as their grandchildren searched for their next creation among the tables.

On Saturday, the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) partnered with Centra Southside Hospital to host the “Art to Your Heart’s Content” Free Family Workshop. The workshop was themed around Valentine’s Day and its traditions.

“It’s not just the kids that make the projects, but it’s the parents too,” explained Emily Grabiec, director of education and outreach at the LCVA.

“We are for everyone in and around the Farmville area,” said James Early, community engagement coordinator, who partners with Grabiec to bring volunteers to the workshops along with managing the social media to advertise the event.

Activities were created for all age groups, and many parents joined in on the fun of creating memories with their children. Some of the activities included making paper flowers, valentine letters and making heart pins to wear on one’s sleeve. The workshop explained aspects of love and friendship through crafts.

As Early explained, art enables children to “create good citizens.” This was the third installment of the Free Family Workshops sponsored by Centra. In the past the hospital has put on a winter wonderland-themed workshop, as well as one centered on Dias De Los Muertos, otherwise known as the Day of the Dead.

“We are very active on a very regular basis,” said Early.

Grabiec explained that these workshops, particularly the Valentine’s Day workshop, have “been going on for over 15 years.” Grabiec coordinates the activities and works alongside with other LCVA staff members to find volunteers at Longwood University and with community members. “I think we had around 220 (people) this time,” Grabeic said. The workshop goes from early morning into mid-afternoon with an open door for creative children and their families. One important aspect to the workshops was keeping “fun and fresh, new ideas” so that parents continue to bring their children back to the workshops as they age.

Incorporating learning through art is an important aspect of the LCVA’s philosophy. “I think it really gets kids excited about learning and creating things,” said Grabiec. Early explained that it is important to incorporate art into a child’s education. “When you study art you study what it means to be human,” said Early.

The workshops are all themed around traditions from around the world and throughout history to encompass a full education for the visitors. “I think in a rural community like this it is easy to put (art) aside. But I think (art) is very helpful for mental health growth for the children.”

Alongside these workshops, the LCVA hosts summer camps. “It’s on a much smaller scale,” said Grabiec, to allow for an individualized approach for hands-on learning.

The theme for this year’s camps will be themed based on famous children’s books.