by Barbara Courtney, Barbara Kline, and Michelle Reed
Governor Gregoire has declared May as Arts Education Month. Last week, the Orcas Center Board and the Orcas Island School Board adopted proclamations recognizing May as Arts Education Month. A proposal is currently pending with the San Juan County Council for them to also approve such a proclamation.
The arts can influence a growing mind and encourage multiple perspectives, good judgment, flexible problem solving, freedom of expression and many other qualities. When arts are present in a school and part of the curriculum, students learn what their community values are. In our island community, we are fortunate to have a thriving arts education program, due to the coordinated efforts of Orcas Center, the school district and Orcas Island Education Foundation. In addition to school-based music and visual art programs, the Arts Education Consortium is providing dance and theater to K-8 grades, with the expectation that the program will expand into the high school in coming years.
Like any high quality arts program, we hope to not only educate through hands-on experience, but also through exposure to many types of art opportunities. Recently, all middle and high school students attended a matinee performance of the Taylor 2 Dance Company at Orcas Center, and all middle school students attended a performance of the Brazilian dance company Grupo Corpo at Meany Hall on the University of Washington Campus. Orcas Center acquired the tickets and OIEF funded transportation. Orcas Open Arts also sponsors a periodic “Art Bus” to Seattle for middle and high school students to experience professional performing and visual arts. Other great arts education experiences are being provided by the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival with their In Music program and by Orcas Open Arts artists-in residency-program. The Music Advisory Group (MAG) helps fund the school district’s music program.
The diversity and strength of our Arts Education Program is being recognized in the form of monetary support from the Washington State Arts Commission, Orcas Island Community Foundation, and the Orcas Island Education Foundation. Recently, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded the program $15,000 to continue the elementary school dance program. Competition for NEA funding is particularly stiff and this award speaks highly to the quality of dance instruction our students receive.
There will be several opportunities to enjoy student art at Orcas Center in May. Watch the Sounder listings for these events and please join us in celebrating Arts Education Month.
Barbara Courtney is the Executive/Artistic Director for Orcas Center, Barbara Kline is superintendent of the Orcas Island Public School District, and Michelle Reed is President of the Orcas Island Education Foundation.
