Cari Smolarczyk of Garfield Ridge is bringing an art studio to Willow Springs.
The village board approved a business license for Work of Heart Studios at its June 11 meeting. The studio will be located at 8300 S. Wolf Road in the sports and fitness center north of German Church Road.
Smolarczyk, 50, has taught art for 26 years and holds a master’s degree in special education. She currently runs an after-school art program in Chicago and Western Springs.
She plans to launch several offerings, including art camp, sensory-based classes, and an adaptive arts program for children with special needs.
“One of the things I hope to offer in the fall is the kids can come up on a Friday night for three hours and the parents can have a date night,” Smolarczyk said after the Willow Springs board meeting.
She decided on the Willow Springs location after noticing demand from parents at the sports and fitness center, where her son plays baseball.
“As I’ve been doing my after-school program, parents are saying ‘we want more,'” she said.
Smolarczyk plans to launch a website for the business soon.