Walking into the Beck Center for the Arts on a late Saturday morning, patrons are greeted by staff members managing the center’s Super Saturday activities. Super Saturday is a free weekly program that allows young artists to explore music, dance, theater and visual arts. The event is designed primarily for children ages 2 to 7, though the Beck Center welcomes participants of all ages.

“It’s to provide free art activities for [kids] to do. Free drumming classes, free dance classes, just to expose them to the arts, and more of having a community sense of coming together to experience the arts,” said Kelsey Heichel.

Heichel is one of the Beck Center staff members responsible for running Super Saturday. Staff members welcome guests, direct them to their location and spend time interacting with and encouraging the young children to partake in the day’s activities. Parents also play an important role in the success of Super Saturday, partaking in activities with children and guiding them towards success.

The Beck Center has hosted Super Saturday for over 10 years, serving families throughout Lakewood and nearby communities. While many participants are local, families from surrounding cities also attend, drawn by the program’s accessibility and variety.

“I hoped [my daughter] would get exposure to instruments and music and different people,” said Nina Dvorak Lawless, a parent attending Super Saturday. “I grew up coming to the Beck Center, and I just love the arts, and I love raising her in culture and exposing her to music and theater.”

Dvorak Lawless and her daughter live in Bay Village but continue to make the weekly trek out to the Lakewood and the Beck Center for this unique experience.

Super Saturday differs from other arts programs for young children because of its structure and accessibility. There is no cost to attend, and the event encourages family involvement rather than focusing solely on the child.

“I like that it’s accessible for students, it’s all free to come here for this specific event, and it’s more focused on family engagements, or being involved when your family comes as well. So it’s not just the child doing it, it’s the family doing it as well. So it kind of brings the family closer together,” shared Heichel.

In addition to strengthening community connections, Super Saturday provides families with a shared creative experience.

“We’ve been coming to the Beck Center since my daughter was six months. We love the programming and just the exposure to the arts that she gets,” said Tom Martin, another parent trying to integrate the arts into his child’s life. “We hoped she would get a diverse range of classes, so exposure to dance, music, drawing, and other arts. The accessibility is great, and we love coming here.”

Heichel said that each Super Saturday focuses on a different art form, rotating weekly between music, theater, dance and visual arts.

At the end of each session, there is a concert for the kids with a professional musician. The musician teaches the kids about the instrument they play, helping spark curiosity and interest.

Heichel said she hopes children leave with both enjoyment and inspiration.

“They gain more understanding of art, and I hope they like something that they did here, so that they come back here … or go somewhere else to learn more about that specific art form. I think that’s great, and I hope they have fun and they learn something new.”