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General Information

Woodlawn Arts Academy is committed to the health and safety of our guests and staff. The Academy continues to monitor the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, along with following the guidelines and safety information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health. In keeping with these guidelines, our current policies are as follows:

  • Face coverings are optional but strongly recommended.
  • Please do not arrive at Woodlawn more than five minutes early for a program.
  • Students should come already dressed in appropriate attire, to limit their time in the public bathrooms.
  • Participants will be reminded to wash hands and use hand sanitizer after any bathroom visits.
  • Participants should bring their own water bottles as the public drinking fountains will be closed.

All in-person programming is subject to state & local mandates for COVID-19 safety. Woodlawn will follow recommendations for schools & recreation facilities.

If it is mandatory, due to COVID-19, for our building to shut down during a session, programs will continue at their regularly scheduled times in a virtual classroom setting. In that instance, please watch your email for instructions. Make-up classes and refunds will not be provided for programs that continue virtually.

View our COVID-19 Procedures, in the event of a diagnosis or close contact, here.

Updated 7/29/21

Woodlawn runs five eight-week sessions for most classes and lessons. Please check your class or lesson listing for exact dates.

Woodlawn Arts Academy will be open most school holidays. Holidays we are closed are listed on the Calendar.

Students may register for classes online, by phone or in person. Online registration is not available for dance classes, any private lessons or other select programs. Tuition for classes must be paid in full at the time of registration. Registration is not complete until payment is made or financial assistance is in place. Registrations are due one week (two weeks for Woodshop programs) prior to the start of the course. If classes do not meet the minimum they will be cancelled and all registered participants will be notified three business days prior to the first day of the class. A full refund or credit will be given should this occur. It is imperative to sign up before the class begins. See the Calendar for specific registration dates. No early registrations will be taken.

Woodlawn is committed to serving all members of the community. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. To apply for financial assistance, pick up an application in the office or download one from this website. Fill out the application and turn it in with the required paperwork. Financial assistance takes two weeks to process and MUST be in place prior to registration. Registration is not complete until payment is made, or a payment plan and/or financial assistance is in place.

Please drop off and pick up your child at the appropriate time. Our instructors are only responsible for your child during their class time. We ask that all minors be escorted to and from class by an authorized adult.

We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Please note: Some non-tuition items are cash or check only.

Refunds or credit vouchers may be given in extenuating circumstances, and are granted at the discretion of the administrative staff. Any refund made after a program begins will be credited to the customer’s account for use toward future Woodlawn programming. If enrolled in a workshop or camp, a refund or credit may only be issued if you withdraw three business days prior to the first day class.

Students are required to call the office to report absences. No make-up lessons will be given if a student misses a class.

If an instructor is unable to teach a lesson or class, he or she will give 24 hours notice (when possible) & will reschedule the lesson or class during the designated make-up week at the end of the session. Class participants will be notified via text message and email. Please login to our registration portal or check with the main office to make sure your contact information is up to date.

In case of bad weather, class participants will be notified of cancellations via text message and email. Phone calls will not be made. Please login to our registration portal or check with the main office to make sure your contact information is up to date. Closures will also be announced on our website and social media. We will do our best to make up for weather cancellations.

The Academy takes photos and videos of activities to promote programs online and in print publications. If you do not want your photo or that of your child used in that way, please notify the office.

The Academy is community based and wants to hear your comments regarding successes and areas needing improvements. Please share your comments with a staff member.

Woodlawn Arts Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.

Should you or someone you know need support because of a disability to visit one of our facilities, or to participate in one of our programs, please contact us so that we may be of assistance. If you believe Woodlawn Arts Academy has treated you unfairly because of a disability, please contact us. Service animals that have been trained individually to perform tasks benefitting a person with a disability are allowed in the Academy’s facilities. All service animals must be under the control of the user. A Woodlawn staff member may remove a service animal that is not under the control of the user. The work of service animals must be related to the disability of the person with a disability. Power-driven personal assistance mobility devices (EPAMDs), whose users must be persons with a disability, are also allowed in the Academy’s facilities.

Woodlawn Arts Academy

3807 Woodlawn Road
Sterling, IL 61081

Need a map or more info? Click here.

Woodlawn Arts Academy is a member agency of United Way of Whiteside County and Lee County. Programs are partially funded by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and The Chicago Community Trust.

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