The annual free art and reading program at the Jasper Area Family Services Center will begin next Tuesday, June 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. The program will run for six consecutive Tuesdays.

The Samuel Lee Smith Advised Fund will present the program with the Walker County Arts Alliance for children ages 5 to 8. This is the sixth year this program has been offered to children in the Walker County area.

The first three weeks (June 5, 12 and 19) will feature reading and arts and crafts focused around the theme for this year, which will be “Travel in the United States.” Books will focus on modes of transportation as well as desert areas, Hawaii, Washington D.C. and New York City. Each week, the children will hear books read aloud to them and will then have related crafts and refreshments.

“This is an opportunity to see how reading can lead them to adventure,” organizer Jeanette Smith said.

The last three weeks (June 26, July 3 and July 10) will be focused on art and will be led by Joe and Kris Holley. During these weeks, children will be doing art projects in different media and will be introduced to the work of famous artists from history.

There will be an art exhibit at the end of the program to showcase the artwork the students create. The exhibit will be July 10, and is open to the public.

The Jasper Area Family Services Center is located at 2209 Delaware Avenue.

“It’s a nice place for us to meet,” Smith said. “Its clean and bright.”

There is no charge for the program and you do not need to register before coming to the program.