The following was submitted by Orcas Open Arts.

Orcas Open Arts, a nonprofit educational organization on Orcas since 1991, is excited to partner with the Middle School to bring Art Exploratories to the curriculum. Programs and artists are already in place. All that is lacking now are the final matching funds!

A strong arts program in our schools is essential to a well-rounded k-12 curriculum. Exposure to art education promotes self-directed learning, improves school attendance and sharpens critical and creative skills. And nowhere is that more relevant than on Orcas where art is strongly enmeshed in the fabric of our community. Since 1997 Orcas Open Arts has recognized both the needs of our students, and the richness of our artistic community. It is the mission of Orcas Open Arts to sponsor artists’ residencies in the schools, and other arts education activities in our community.

As with so many visual art programs throughout the country, lack of state and federal funding to our schools has necessitated cuts in our public school budget. Through Orcas Open Arts, the Artists-In-The-Schools program will bring artists into the elementary school classrooms and the Orcas Island Education Foundation has funded the arts programs in the High School taught by Cory Wiscomb. Those classes include: “Art for Life” and “Advanced Art.”

It is the middle school that desperately needs arts programs. Last year, Orcas Open Arts recognized a lack of art courses in the middle school. It reached out to the Education Foundation for funding to create a quarter-long exploratory for seventh and eighth graders. This year, Orcas Open Arts hopes to expand that program to three quarters.

According to Andrea Cohen, coordinator for the Middle School Artists in Residence, “Our pilot program offered the kids an introduction to the work of several Orcas Island artists, and a chance to work in several media – visual journaling/collage, cardboard construction and ceramics. This is a good format for at least one of the quarters this year, and the others would focus on a specific medium. There is a professional science-fiction illustrator on the island who has agreed to teach a session on fantasy illustration. The goal is to interest as many children as possible by varying the art option each quarter.”

The cost of running the three quarter program is $3000. The Orcas Island Education Foundation has pledged a $1500 match if Orcas Open Arts can find donors to help with the additional $1500.

If you appreciate the impact of art in our schools, we hope you will help us make this match! Send tax deductible donation to: Orcas Open Arts, PO Box 1843, Eastsound, WA 98245.