We are always learning

Cape organizations offer a diverse palette of enrichment courses for students of all ages.

Photo by Bob Nash

September has arrived, bringing with it cooler air, quieter streets, and a return to routine. For many, this particular month signals a fresh start, a sentiment that may harken back to younger years when Labor Day marked the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year.

Following this theme, the fall can be viewed as a time of opportunity—to learn something new, perhaps, such as a foreign language, how to play a musical instrument, or simply to get creative and be inspired. And according to some local experts, there is no better, or easier, place to find a new passion than on Cape Cod.

“The Cape offers endless opportunities to take part in a class or join a group, and there are so many unique opportunities,” says Julie Wake, executive director of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. “There’s such an eclectic mix of people and interests down here, and people really need to take advantage of that.”

Whether one is looking to study art, writing, cooking, music, drama, or a variety of other activities, Wake says there is most likely a class, workshop, or group available on the peninsula to nurture that interest, develop new skills, or simply to widen one’s social circle.

The Arts Foundation is a great place to start. Since 1988 the organization has been supporting through grants a wide array of arts education programs from Falmouth to Provincetown. In nearly three decades the Arts Foundation has provided $1.5 million in arts funding to more than 350 unique arts and cultural organizations and individual artists.

Wake says one of the organization’s main goals is to make art accessible to everyone. “Art is therapeutic, expressive and educational,” she says. “Arts are healing and they connect people. I’m a strong believer that art is very empowering. You don’t have to be a famous artist or Hemingway to enjoy the arts.”

Further, the simple act of being part of a group and sharing the experience of learning something new can enrich one’s life, Wake says. “Take a drawing class, for example, it’s a very communal activity where you can develop a new skill, connect with other students, and really develop a sense of place and community.”