The Arc Studio

The Arc Studio The Arc Studio at the Arc of the Piedmont offers visual arts programming and an open studio environment for adult artists with disabilities.

Is there a doctor in the house? There sure is 🎓We are so proud of our Studio founder and Director, Dr. Amy Keenan-Amago,...
05/26/2026

Is there a doctor in the house? There sure is 🎓

We are so proud of our Studio founder and Director, Dr. Amy Keenan-Amago, who earned her PhD last week! Amy's doctoral research examined the relationship between artmaking and self-making for artists with developmental disabilities. Her dedication, curiosity, and care shape so much of what happens at The Arc Studio, and we are lucky to learn from her every day.

Please join us in celebrating this incredible accomplishment 👏💛

Image Description: Group photo of Arc Studio artists smiling and waving alongside Dr. Amy Keenan-Amago, who stands in the center wearing graduation regalia. The group celebrates her achievement inside a bright art studio filled with colorful artwork and supplies.

For people with developmental disabilities, participation in the arts supports identity formation, self awareness, socia...
05/14/2026

For people with developmental disabilities, participation in the arts supports identity formation, self awareness, social engagement, and self determination. These are not small things. They are the building blocks of a full and meaningful life. 🎨💛

The Arc Studio program at The Arc of the Piedmont exists because we believe every person deserves the opportunity to create, express, and be fully seen.
Image Description: Image 1: Teal background graphic with large yellow text reading “QUESTION?” and smaller white text asking, “Why is participation in the arts essential for people with developmental disabilities?” Below, a person in a blue paint-splattered shirt and red glasses leans over a table, focused on painting with a wide brush. Image 2: Teal background graphic with large yellow text reading “ANSWER!” followed by white and yellow text explaining that the arts support identity formation, self awareness, social engagement, and self determination, especially for people with developmental disabilities. The Arc of the Piedmont logo appears at the bottom.

05/12/2026

The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission is providing people with developmental disabilities a “life like yours”. Part of any meaningful life involves participation in the creative cultures of our communities.

In early 2023, The Arc Studio at The Arc of the Piedmont began a meaningful partnership with the education department at UVA’s Fralin Museum of Art. Together, we built a program called “Art SpArcs” that provides Arc artists with monthly outings to The Fralin.

Designed and led by Fralin museum educators, each visit involves an opportunity to view and discuss artwork in the museum galleries paired with a related artmaking experience in the Fralin studio.

These experiences have given Arc artists opportunities to participate in Charlottesville’s rich arts culture as museum patrons, while also offering innovative artmaking experiences in an inspiring creative space.

Thank you, , for building this partnership with The Arc. 🧡💛💜
Video Description: Video shows a group outing that begins with people singing together on a bus. Clips follow of participants dancing and entering an elevator, then gathering around tables to create art. The group is shown inside an art museum gallery, followed by still images of individuals exploring exhibits. Additional clips show participants pressing patterns into gold foil and creating artwork. The video continues with artists holding up and sharing their finished pieces. It ends with group photos in elevators, people waving from a bus, and a closing graphic featuring the Fralin Museum of Art at UVA logo.

There’s a rhythm to Dottie’s work. Layered color, repeated shapes, and a sense of movement that keeps your eye exploring...
05/07/2026

There’s a rhythm to Dottie’s work. Layered color, repeated shapes, and a sense of movement that keeps your eye exploring. A strong example of pattern and process in our inclusive art studio.🔵💛🔶💜🎨

Image 1: Colorful abstract collage with a purple glitter background, layered translucent tape, and small patterned squares in pink, teal, and multicolor arranged in a grid-like design. Image 2: Bright geometric collage on a light blue background featuring cut paper circles, dots, and squares in orange, yellow, pink, green, and black, arranged in a playful, overlapping pattern. Image 3: Painted artwork with rows of circular dots in blue, teal, purple, and yellow on a warm peach background, with visible brush textures and a purple band along the bottom. Image 4: A woman named Dottie seated at a table wearing rainbow bunny ears, reaching forward with a smile; colorful markers in small containers sit in the foreground, with an art studio background including papers, supplies, and a wall sign.

Inspired by Judith Scott, a renowned artist with an intellectual disability known for transforming everyday objects into...
04/23/2026

Inspired by Judith Scott, a renowned artist with an intellectual disability known for transforming everyday objects into wrapped, sculptural forms full of texture and mystery. We introduced Selena to the idea… and she took off with it 🧶

Layer by layer, wrap by wrap, Selena made it her own.

Image Description: A series of small mixed-media sculptures made from yarn-wrapped blocks and fiber materials, each displayed on a painted base against a neutral backdrop. The pieces feature layered and tightly wound threads in bold color palettes, including deep blues with draped strands, bright reds with playful pipe cleaners, and multicolored woven textures with cascading fringe-like fibers. Several works incorporate dimensional elements such as fuzzy pink forms mounted on wire or placed in a small container. The last post in the carousel is a video of Selena sitting in a chair wrapping a shape with yarn.

Saturday night at the 10th Annual Arc of the Piedmont Gala ✨Enormous thanks to everyone who attended, supported, danced,...
04/21/2026

Saturday night at the 10th Annual Arc of the Piedmont Gala ✨

Enormous thanks to everyone who attended, supported, danced, donated, and celebrated with us. It was such a fun, meaningful evening filled with community, connection, and a shared love for the work of our artists.

Owen and his family were incredible keynote speakers. Our artists showed up dressed to the nines, and we sold a ton of artwork from our Arc Studio artists.
It was a magical night! Thank you for making it so. 🧡

Image Description: A series of candid moments from The Arc of the Piedmont’s 10th Annual Gala, showing guests engaging with artwork, dancing, and connecting throughout the event. Scenes include people browsing and purchasing art at display tables, lively dancing under colorful lighting, a speaker addressing a seated audience, and small groups smiling and posing together. Guests wear formal and cocktail attire, and the space features warm lighting, art displays, and a festive, celebratory atmosphere.

01/15/2026

🎵🥁 This is what play sounds like. Adam beatboxing, Adam belting the Elmo's World song, a rhythm of hand drumming from Owen, a round of applause with the whole studio cheering each on! There’s always room for fun, music, and a little spontaneity at the Arc Studio.

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12/30/2025

Many thanks to the Charlottesville Ballet for welcoming us to their sensory friendly Nutcracker Sweets performance.

Designed with care for individuals with autism, sensory sensitivities, or disabilities, these shows featured adjusted lights and sound, a relaxed atmosphere where movement and conversation are welcome, quiet spaces, and ASL interpretation at the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center.

We were even lucky enough to go backstage and meet the ballet dancers after the show. Moments like these remind us how special our Charlottesville community is and how powerful a shared commitment to inclusion can be 🧡🧡🧡



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1149 Rose Hill Drive
Charlottesville, VA
22903

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