Arts in April Programming Spring 2026 

 About Arts in April Workshops: Join the RVCC community by attending one or all of these creative arts-inspired workshops. These free, 90-minute sessions will be held on Zoom throughout April 2026–no prior experience is needed and all are welcome! The goal of Arts in April is to provide accessible arts programming to RVCC students and members of the local community. Throughout the workshops, participants will explore themes and topics related to a variety of courses offered for credit at RVCC. Free, but pre-registration is required. Register here!

This project was made possible through a grant from New Hampshire Humanities, with support from New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org

Session #1: Six-Word Memoirs 

 Presenter: Cara Chanoine MFA, PhD. Cara is a poet and the Program Director of RVCC’s English Department.  Her most recent poetry collection, Philosopher Kings, was released by Silver Bow Publishing in January 2023, and her multimedia chapbook, The Sad Girl Mix Tape, won the 2024 Deanna Tulley Multimedia Prize. Her creative work has appeared in Mantis, Lumina, and other publications.  

 Workshop Description: Memoir is a branch of narrative nonfiction focused on personal experiences. Many people find memoir writing cathartic, validating, and enjoyable, even if they would not normally consider themselves writers. The six-word memoir is a (relatively) recent adaptation of the genre that echoes the ways in which brevity and conciseness have become embedded in our day-to-day communication. However, the six-word memoir challenges us to consider that brevity does not preclude depth of meaning. This sub-genre of memoir writing asks authors to consider a single experience, or their life as a whole, and distill it down into six deliberately chosen words. In this make-and-take workshop, participants can drop in to create their own six-word memoirs. 

Recommended Materials: Materials are provided 

 Date and Time: April 1-30 

 Location/Modality: In-person stations set up in Claremont, Keene and Lebanon campuses. 

• This is a “make-and-take” workshop where participants can drop-in and create a piece of writing on their own schedule using the provided materials. 

• Participants may display their work, take it home, or create one to display and one to take away.  

Session #2: Creative Careers  

Workshop Description:

Creativity can lead to more than personal expression—it can also lead to meaningful and sustainable careers. This engaging panel discussion brings together professionals working in a range of creative fields to share how their artistic training translated into real-world career opportunities.

This session will explore how studying the arts can build valuable professional skills such as creative problem solving, communication, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking. Panelists will discuss their career journeys, the role their education played in shaping their paths, and the diverse opportunities available in creative industries today.

Attendees will gain insight into the many ways artistic skills can be applied in professional settings, learn about potential career paths in the arts, and have the opportunity to ask questions about education, portfolio development, networking, and entering creative fields.  Whether you are considering studying the arts or simply curious about how creativity connects to careers, this panel will highlight how artistic passion can evolve into impactful and rewarding professional work.

Participants include: Alisa Andrusiak, Group Manager-Creative Operations; Cara Chanoine, Poet, RVCC Department English Program Director; Jay Chanoine, Comedian; Heidi Lorenz, Artist and Arts Educator; Nick Paradis, Muralist, Arts Educator; Amy Regan, Owner & Curator, See Saw Art; Co-founder, Rochester MFA  

 Date: Wednesday, April 22

Time: 6-7:30pm

 Location/Modality: Online via Zoom. You will receive a Zoom link when you register. 

Session #3: Brenda Phillips: Nature Abstract Exhibit Gallery Talk 

 Presenter: Eric Sutphin, RVCC Projects Gallery Manager.  

 Workshop Description: Join us for a discussion of the life and work of the late Plainfield, NH-based artist Brenda Phillips, whose “Nature Abstract” series, is on view in the RVCC gallery through May 29, 2026. The event will include a virtual “walkthrough” of the exhibit as well as introduce participants to Phillip’s work and discuss it in context.  Phillips was a visionary artist, and this exhibit is an opportunity to experience and discuss her inventive, joyful work.   

 Date: Thursday, April 30

Time: 6-7:30pm

 Location/Modality: Online via Zoom. You will receive a Zoom link when you register.