Hold an Art Fair

Here's a chance to support your local artists: hold an art fair that showcases their creativity. In a backyard or at a local park, set up tables covered with newspaper or plastic tablecloths. Then, ask families to stock each site with supplies for a favorite art project, such as spin art, melted crayon paintings, candle-dipping, bead-making or sponge painting.

To jump-start the creative process, launch the event with a challenge to make a giant squirt painting. Spread a big sheet of white paper on the ground, hand everyone a squirt bottle or squirt gun full of thinned tempera paints, and stand back.

Consider setting up the fair as a charity project: charge admission or ask artists to sell their work and donate the proceeds.