ECF Announces Downtown Art Center and Art Gallery Open House

LOS ANGELES - May 13, 2014 - PRLog -- The Exceptional Children's Foundation (ECF) welcomes the community to its Downtown Art Center and Art Gallery Open House at 431 South Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles on Friday, May 16, from 12noon to 2pm.

“Serving the community since 1968, ECF’s Art Center Program has a long history of providing professional art instruction to adults with developmental disabilities, helping them express themselves creatively and maximizing their potential as artists,” said Scott Bowling, President and CEO of Exceptional Children’s Foundation.

ECF artists range in age from 18 to 65 and many have multiple disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, physical disabilities and emotional and psychiatric disorders. Each artist is given individual goals based on his or her interests and abilities.

ECF’s Art Center Program is modeled after master’s level fine arts programs and is taught by instructors who are artists with high levels of expertise and training. They teach students to focus on creating contemporary art for display in high end galleries. Art Center instructors provide fine arts training in acrylic and oil painting, print-making, ceramics, watercolors, sculpting, photography, and digital imagery. ECF artists benefit by receiving recognition and payment when their work is sold.

Over the years, thousands of pieces have sold with a portion of the proceeds returning to the program and the balance going directly to the artist. The Art Center Program also partners with local artists, galleries and organizations to display, sell and promote the work of artists, both those with developmental disabilities and those without.

The Downtown Art Center (DAC) Gallery serves as a hub to showcase ECF’s art work. The South Broadway location is a new location in Downtown Los Angeles. In 2013, the DAC Gallery became one of a limited number of galleries across America selected to join a new Amazon.com initiative called Fine Art on Amazon. Over 700 pieces created by ECF artists are featured on the DAC Gallery’s Amazon.com we page: www.ECFonAmazon.com.

About Exceptional Children's Foundation
Exceptional Children's Foundation (ECF) provides the highest quality services for children and adults who are challenged with developmental, learning and emotional disabilities – empowering them to reach their greatest potential. Each year, ECF serves 3,200 clients and their families at 15 sites throughout Los Angeles County. ECF is the only organization of its kind in California to provide a lifespan of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. To learn more, visit http://www.ECF.net and connect on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ConnectwithECF.