Housed in a 36,000-square-foot, 1925 neo-classical Revival style building just north of Downtown Albuquerque,
Harwood Art Center is a creative community outreach program of Escuela del Sol Montessori, an independent Montessori school. At a grassroots level, Harwood engages the arts as a catalyst for lifelong learning, social change and community development.
The Center provides art education for all ages; community outreach projects and events; teaching and apprenticeship opportunities; and studios, exhibitions and professional development programs for both emerging and established artists.
Harwood Art Center was originally (1925-1976) the home of the Harwood Girls School which was founded in the 1880s by Methodist missionaries. In 1984, Escuela del Sol – Harwood Art Center’s future parent organization – began renting a portion of the campus for their elementary school students, and in 1991 Harwood began to build a community of artists and connect to the neighborhood.
Escuela del Sol, has nurtured self-discovery, social responsibility and passion for learning in our students. Each day Escuela supports students from ages 18 months to 14 years on their real-world quests to excel academically and to develop the skills they need for meaningful, happy and successful futures.
Credit: Overview from museum website