The Alpha Workshops' Basic Training is a 10 week program designed to give people living with HIV/AIDS the basic fundamentals in the decorative arts. In Alpha's first 10 years, we have held training sessions for more than 100 men and women and have employed or placed more than 55 of them in jobs in the decorative arts.
During Basic Training, trainees are introduced to the essential tools and techniques used in commercial decorative painting, including: color theory; surface preparation; properties and uses of various paints, mediums and solvents; working with gold-leaf and other metal leaf; applying and working with specialty plaster products; and transfer techniques. Each student will create a portfolio of samples and sample boards demonstrating his or her proficiency in a number of painting techniques including faux-marble, faux-woodgrain, sponging, trowelling and stamping.
The classes are only open to men and women with HIV/AIDS but previous training or background in art is not required. We ask that prospective trainees have an interest in exploring returning to work in this field. We ask all of our trainees to become clients of New York State Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) which will cover all tuition costs. We can assist applicants with that process.
We generally hold three 10-week sessions per year, beginning in January, April and August. Each session has a one-week break between the 5th and 6th week. The classes are 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.