Well, here we are, on the world wide web. What a journey this has been! We started with a simple mission, a simple plan...."let's teach art!" and we ended with eyes wide open to a much more complicated issue. The lack of art education available to the deserving children of our community. We have an incredible city, one that embraces and encourages the arts. However, only 11 out of 44 elementary schools offer art education - leaving a gaping hole in the academic experience of Hamilton County students. We, ArtPart, would like to rally the troops (yes, YOU are the troops) and improve that 11/44 statistic. Art is an important part of education. http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/champions/message.html The act of creating fosters innovation, builds self-esteem, and reinforces academic understanding. All children benefit from the intrinsic value of making art, not just those who are "gifted" with artistic skill.
Take DiCorius Knight. As we studied, sketched and considered various skyscrapers (preparing for the creation of brilliant cityscapes), I told DiCorius that he could become an architect someday. He had never heard the word before. He did not know what an architect was or what an architect did. DiCorius inquired and continued to create his cityscape masterpiece. As we talked, his imagination constructed a cityscape on paper while his intellect constructed new aspirations for his future. Three months later, DiCorius came to school as an architect on career day.
This is only one story. We have many. We invite you to be a part of our mission to both advocate art education and to provide accessible art initiatives for as many Hamilton County students as possible.
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