Outreach

 

The arts provide an outlet through which a diverse sense of community is enabled. A critical component in preparing our children for the future, arts education improves cognitive development, inspires motivation and discipline, develops confidence and creativity, as well and enhances communication and problem-solving skills. 

Our education outreach program, Arts For All Children, is comprised of three parts: Art Reach, Artist-in-Residence and Marguerite Neel Williams Boys and Girls Summer Camp.

	Art Reach Every year, students from local schools attend special performances presented by professional acting companies. Productions scheduled for the 2010 – 2011 school year include: Curious George, The World Turned Upside Down: Music and Stories of the American Revolution, American Tall Tales, featuring Mark Twain, Living Voices presents Native Vision and The Adventures of ECO-MAN.
	Artist-in-Residence Since the program's inception in 1993, Artist-in-Residence has given over 100,000 children, from kindergarten through twelfth grade, the chance to meet and work with local artists. A teacher or principal from any school within Thomas County can make a request for an artist to come to their school for a day to demonstrate or provide hands-on teaching. The art shared includes weaving, pottery, cartooning, printmaking, drawing and painting. The talent and skills of these artists aim to challenge, inspire and develop the creativity of students.
	Marguerite Neel Williams Boys and Girls Club Camp Every summer, 40 children from the Marguerite Neel Williams Boys and Girls Club attend two weeks of art camp. The camps purpose is to teach and employ art as a means of self-expression and to further the child's knowledge of their world. In Age of Aquarius Camp this summer student recieved a hands-on history lesson on the '60s through creating modern art such as Pop Art and Op Art, as well as performing excerts from the musical "Hair".