South Country Education Foundation, Inc.

Serving the students of the South Country School District

 Students 4 Art

Mission

Students 4 Art is focused on developing educational opportunities and experiences in the visual arts for students of the South Country School District.

Goals

Students 4 Art is dedicated to providing students of the South Country School District with exposure to a variety of art mediums and techniques and infusing their lives with creativity. At the current time, we are planning to administer the following programs:

1. An enriching Summer Art Program to complement the art studies offered in the school district -August 2009  As part of the Summer Art Program, offer personalized mentoring sessions for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the arts to help solidify their foundation and provide support in creating well-rounded portfolios
2. Summer scholarships to art students, providing the opportunity to attend specialized art programs offered by other institutions—Summer 2010
3. Master ‘Arts Appreciation’ classes for the adult community—October 2009
4. Art enriching experiences

- Visiting artists, field trips

Motivation

We believe that our art experiences encourage a personal fulfillment and help transmit an appreciation of our artistic heritage that nurtures an awareness of the role of art in society and our day-to-day lives.

The knowledge and skills students and adults alike develop in learning to respond to, create and experience works of art.  This constitutes a fundamental form of literacy our community must have in order to communicate successfully, to comprehend and to function in today’s new media and information society and to develop an appreciation for and a desire to nurture our communities.

About the Summer Arts Program: The Experience of Art

The Summer Arts Program, The Experience of Art, is designed to enrich the lives of students in the South Country School District by providing them an opportunity to experience the visual arts through mediums and techniques that are distinct from, yet complementary to those currently offered through the school district. It strives to achieve this goal by offering them the opportunity to:

·     Create connections with and draw inspiration from visiting local artists and see them at work in their medium

·     Gain exposure to a variety of art mediums and techniques

·     Explore these varied mediums to create original works of art.

·     Experience our day-to-day surroundings through the eye of an artist via local walks

Additionally, art-bound high school students can benefit from personalized mentoring sessions to help solidify their foundation and gain support in creating well-rounded portfolios.

Visual arts and music go hand in hand to create a well-rounded, creative and inventive student. Unfortunately, as students enter high school they often have to choose between continuing with art or with music at the high school. Through this program, we hope to provide music students the opportunity to be able to continue to experience the visual arts.

How the Summer Arts Program works

The program will run for one full week. Each day, students will be exposed to a different artist and medium. Students will gain hands-on experience in exploring each medium and create their own work of art. The program is comprised of three components:

1. Visiting local artist presents and discusses their work
2. Visiting local artist performs demo of the medium
3. Teacher works with students to explore that medium and create an age-appropriate work of art. Students will have an opportunity to draw inspiration from nature and paint on location, as well as experience other enriching activities.

Participants: Students / Educators

·     The program is open to students of the South Country School District. 60 students (15 maximum per level)

·     Educators: four teachers (one per level) from the South Country School District -the program may enlist high school students interested

      in pursuing art education as teachers’ assistants

·     Five visiting local artists, who will donate their time

·     If required, a nurse will be employed for the time the program runs. In the event that summer school is offered, we would seek to extend

      the hours of the summer school nurse to cover the program.

Four levels based on student age

The one-week program is available at four different age levels (based on students’ grade in September 2009):

1.  First to third grade
2.  Fourth and fifth grades
3.  Sixth through eighth grades
4.  Ninth through twelfth grades

The maximum number of students in each level is 15 on a first come, first serve  basis.

Program dates, location and cost