I met Dawn Quill of Arts VanGo in 2026 while she was a board member with the Crossroads Arts Alliance. Later that summer, my daughter participated in one her Art VanGo pop-up workshops held in The Haymarket Museum, where artists around the ages of 8 to 12 learned about artist Kehinde Wiley and created a portrait where the background became the foreground.
Under Quill’s instruction, the artists were able to create unique mixmedia self-portraits regardless of their experience level. Even better is that they learned about an artist and her specific art technique in the process.
Founded in 2022 by Quill, Arts VanGo began with a simple but powerful mission: to make high-quality art education accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability. After years of providing mobile art experiences, Quill realized the community needed a dedicated space for "process-based" art—where the joy of creating is just as important as the final masterpiece.
“Art allows us all to speak the same language,” says Quill. “We wanted to create a welcoming environment where the local community can explore, create, and connect outside of a formal school setting.”
Quill previously worked at the Smithsonian as well as an elementary art and preschool teacher. She describes herself as a natural teacher. In fact, she started instructing students in art while she was still in high school.
“I was born an art educator,” she said. “From a very young age, I realized the power and my love of art, and became fixated on sharing it with my community.”
Working in the little schoolhouse felt right to Quill. While the mission “to meet artists where they are,” was somewhat of a pun, the long-term plan was always to have a studio space.
Therefore, when she found out that the Crossroads Arts Council would be available for rent in 2026, she jumped at the opportunity to lease it.
“There’s nothing like it in the area. It’s an inclusive community space,” said Quill. “It’s a uniquely inclusive art space, where every artist was welcome regardless of age or ability. Where people could come together, and a community could build around art.”
That year, the town was considering making it a pop-up business incubator space, but Quill promised Art VanGo would make The Studio responsive to the town by holding free events that corresponded to town celebrations.
Quill works closely with the Town of Haymarket to offer many free events that correspond with the history of the Town and special annual celebrations. Her hope is to make that part of Washington Street a destination for artists and art lovers alike.
And Quill’s “process-based” instruction is perfect for that. She is adept at planning lessons for those who have no prior arts education.
This end of the county has limited arts-based opportunities, especially for our youth,” said Emily Kyriazi, Haymarket town manager and zoning administrator. “Having Arts VanGo located here and partnering with the Town is such a treasure for our community. We've been able to connect through events with Dawn to bring more art opportunities to our programs as well as our farmers market.”
Kyriazi continued, “One of the most unique features of this partnership is the fact that we are able to bring youth educational programming back into the Museum, which was the original one-room schoolhouse in Haymarket. This partnership celebrates so much positivity for our community and the true nature of the structure, educating our youth."
Art VanGo held The Studio’s grand opening on March 14, inviting the community in to paint a mural created by Meghan Bogue of Wholeheart Murals that read, "Art for All."
"We stripped it of all its color to have the community participate in a paint-by-numbers activity," Quill explains.
Meghan Bogue of Wholeheart Mural was happy to participate.
“[Quill] has such an amazing heart and big plans to build the kind of warm, welcoming art community that I have always hoped to see in Haymarket,” said Bogue. “It felt really meaningful to contribute to something that brings people together through creativity. It was inspiring to see everyone - from young children to grand-parents, painting different parts of the mural together.”
In April The Studio held a community event that coincided with the return of the Haymarket Farmers Market, which resulted in a steady stream of foot traffic.
As I entered the one-room school house I immediately noticed it looked brighter and more playful inside, and a new mural on the back wall that read, “Art for All," and children were busily coloring canvas bags for use at the market, while parents were asking Quill about her various classes and clinics.
Quill expects summer to be one of her busiest seasons as she is holding several week-long morning art classes, including ones that incorporate STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.] For older artists, she holds introductory and progressive art classes. She also holds adaptive art classes for those with different cognitive abilities.
And her Mini & Me classes are also very popular, allowing parents time to bond while their 1-2 year olds engage in a meaningful creative experience.
Quill plans to continue the mobile aspects of business but expects The Studio will serve most needs for classes, camps and clinics as well as holding private parties.
To serve the larger community, she is working with art students and different schools in the area.
She wants to make The Studio not only Art VanGo’s space but one belonging to the community.
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