National Arts in Education Week at Stark Museum of Art:
In conjunction with National Arts in Education Week at the beginning of September, the Stark Museum of Art celebrated a year of achievements in arts education, stating a mission to reinforce a commitment to fostering creativity and learning in Southeast Texas. National Arts in Education Week is celebrated annually beginning the second Sunday in September.
Over the past year, the Stark Museum of Art has reached a new milestone, the nonprofit reported, by serving a total of 30,227 students through its comprehensive educational programs. These initiatives are touted as designed to inspire young minds and cultivate a deep appreciation for the arts.
Stark Museum of Art’s on-site programs alone resulted in the museum welcoming 2,765 students, providing them with hands-on experiences and direct engagement with art in a museum setting. School outreach totaled 3,626 students served through programs including murals, summer creativity kits and visits to schools; 23,836 students were additionally served through virtual field trips.
In addition to student outreach, the museum has made strides in supporting educators, hosting approximately 100 teachers in workshops hosted by the museum.
“These professional development opportunities are crucial in helping teachers bring the power of art into their classrooms,” said Kyra Hall, studio and public program coordinator for Stark Museum of Art. “We also want to ensure that all students have the opportunity to visit our museum and create something in the studio. To help make this possible, the Stark Museum of Art offers bus reimbursement for all schools in Region 5 and Calcasieu Parish through the generous support of the Stark Foundation.”
The Stark Museum of Art also celebrated student creativity by hosting exhibitions that featured more than 650 submissions from young artists.
“Arts education is at the heart of what we do at the Stark Museum of Art,” said Rebecca Johns, school programs manager for the museum. “We believe in the power of the arts to inspire, educate and transform lives, and we are thrilled to have reached so many students and educators this year. As we celebrate National Arts in Education Week, we reaffirm our commitment to making the arts accessible to all and nurturing the next generation of artists and art enthusiasts.”
For more information about the Stark Museum of Art’s educational programs and upcoming events, visit starkmuseum.org. The Stark Museum of Art, 712 Green Ave. in downtown Orange, is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free of charge.