Mom on a mission to open an art studio

Michelle Ziegler wants local kids to have more chances to create art.

She’s proposing to open and run an art studio somewhere in Encinitas. To reach this goal, she recently started a campaign on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe.

“We would have workshops, playgroups, events and birthday parties,” said Ziegler, an event planner and former kindergarten teacher.

Ziegler is looking to raise $25,000 by Feb. 28. That money would go toward supplies, licensing and renting out a location, she said. She has yet to settle on a spot for the studio.

Recently, the drop-in studio Art Soup in Encinitas closed, leading Ziegler to launch her campaign.

“They did a lot of great things and I wanted to carry on that torch,” Ziegler said.

Ziegler believes she’s filling a need, saying tight school budgets result in fewer opportunities for the arts in classrooms.

“Art is really important in the development of children,” she said.

Learn more about her crowdfunding campaign at gofundme.com/saveencinitasart.