ABOUT ART KID
Art as a way of thinking
Art Kid is a contemporary, research-informed arts education project for children aged 5 to 12. We move away from traditional product-led activities toward an atelier-based approach where materials are seen as languages and art is a process of inquiry.
OUR APPROACH
Beyond the predetermined result
A programme might begin with a material, an image, a story, a question or an unusual object. We don't follow a roadmap to a predetermined result; instead, we follow the curiosities and experiments of the children.
TRADITIONAL PRODUCT-LED ACTIVITY
- Focus on mimicking one fixed example
- Uniform results across the group
- Limited material choice to ensure 'success'
- Adult-driven aesthetic
PROCESS-BASED ATELIER
- Focus on investigation and discovery
- Unique outcomes for every child
- Wide range of materials as research tools
- Child-led creative decisions
THE ATELIER
Materials are not just materials
In an Art Kid atelier, the environment is seen as the ‘third teacher’. We provide high-quality artistic tools, from sculptor’s clay and architectural wire to unexpected natural finds and everyday objects. These materials function as tools for thinking, allowing children to make their invisible theories visible through the languages of art.
observe → investigate → experiment → reflect → develop
LEARNING THROUGH ART
What happens in an
ART KID atelier
The atelier is a place for research, where art is used as a tool for understanding the world. Children are encouraged to work at their own pace, following their own curiosity within a structured but flexible environment.
01
Deep exploration of specific artistic media, from charcoal and ink to clay and textiles, to understand their unique properties and possibilities.
Immersion in materials
02
Practising slow, detailed observation of objects, images and the environment to develop visual literacy and focus.
The habit of looking
03
Learning that creative problems can have many solutions, and that making a mistake is often an essential step in a discovery.
Critical thinking through making
04
Working in small groups where children see each other's processes, swap ideas and learn from different perspectives.
Shared creative dialogue
05
Revising and building on work over time, seeing how a simple initial idea can evolve into something complex and meaningful.
Documentation and reflection
Founder and lead educator
Maria Fokina is the founder of ART KID, a multidisciplinary artist and arts educator with nearly nine years of experience working with children in educational, cultural and community settings.
She received six years of formal training in fine arts in Russia and holds a BA in Journalism from Lomonosov Moscow State University, with an academic focus on arts and cultural journalism. She is currently completing an M.Ed in Arts Education Practice at Dublin City University.
Since founding ART KID in 2024, Maria has been developing and leading arts programmes for children and families in Luxembourg. Her work brings together artistic practice, educational research and long-term experience with children.
She creates process-based learning environments in which children can investigate materials, test ideas, make independent choices and develop their own forms of expression.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
A safe and carefully prepared environment
The atelier is designed for creative freedom, but safety and professional rigour underpin every session. We maintain the high administrative and ethical standards of a professional educational environment.
01
CHILD SAFEGUARDING
All educators hold enhanced background checks and follow a clear, strict child protection policy.
02
FIRST AID
First aid training is maintained as a core professional requirement, with a fully maintained kit on site.
03
AGE-APPROPRIATE PLANNING
All materials and equipment are selected to match the physical and cognitive development of the child.