Arts In The Schools

"Once Upon a Lily Pad"

From left to right: Lovensky Gresseau (Turtle), Savannah Jenkins (Egret), Jonathan Houston (Hoot Gibson, Owl), Casey Eubank (Snake), Veronica Cottrell (Alligator), Kayla Thuman (Firefly), DiMaggio Tucci (Freddy the Frog)

Arts education is very important to the Arts Council and our mission of inspiring participation in the arts. This year we debuted a new arts education program at JD Parker School for Math, Science and Technology Extended Day program. With the success of this year's program,we hope to be able to expand into two schools next year.

"Once Upon a Lily Pad" is a musical play that the students performed on Thursday, May 28 at 7 pm. Over the course of a four month multi-disciplinary program, the students learned from the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center about the animals in the play. They also learned from author/illustrator Janeen Mason who helped them create illustrations of their future costumes and they worked side by side with Brenda Leigh to paint their set and with Karen Barnes, who directed and produced the program and acted as music/acting coach.

A highlight for the children was working with Kelsey Moore and Philippe Arroyo, high school students who have participated in Opus, Starstruck Productions, and Martin High School drama productions. Moore and Arroyo assisted with dramatic and musical preparation during the program. The wonderful set was enhanced with live foliage from BlueWater Garden Center.

This program is sponsored by Target, the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Martin County School District.

Picture People Program

Picture People has been an ongoing program of The Arts Council since the early 1990's. Volunteers take oversized prints of museum art into third grade classrooms once a month to discuss content, style, etc., with the children while encouraging creative, imaginative responses. The program runs from October through April allowing for seven prints to be introduced to the students.

Research shows that children educated in the arts receive many benefits from the program besides art awareness. These include:

• developing critical thinking skills,

• improving academic performance,

• learning to work with a team,

• creative expression, and

• increasing self-confidence.