The sound of school bells ringing across the region is also a call to local artists. The new scholastic year is also the start of the new artistic education year. While schools have gotten away from each teacher attempting to instruct the principles of art, the school district is still committed to those learning values. So, through the help of the Community Arts Council (CAC), community artists are brought into the classroom to spark that creative fire for kids.
"The teachers have an honorarium, a budget, for artists in the classroom," said Lisa Redpath, CAC project co-ordinator. "They decide themselves how they want to spend it, and there are a lot of factors that go into each teacher's decisions, every classroom has a different set of circumstances. We are very flexible in that sense. They come to us with their thoughts about what they might want. We have a menu of what we have available, and we arrange artists for them."
The more artists on the CAC roster, the more options they can present to the teachers. Some artists have become beloved classroom visitors over the years, because they have a strong set of classroom presentation skills on top of their artistic ones.
"Sometimes the teacher wants to really teach their kids something, and sometimes it's just for fun. It depends on the age of the kids, the things the kids are interested in, the way it fits with the other things they are teaching, the level of arts knowledge the teacher might have, so many factors. Sometimes they want the artist to help the kids make something for a special occasion like gifts to take home for Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day," said Redpath.
Some of the past artists who have gone into local classrooms include glassworker Wendy Young, painter Crystalynn Tarr, who also creates her own paint from rock and dirt pigments, B.C. Art Battle champion Corey Hardeman, internationally acclaimed potter Leanna Carlson, magazine-featured watercolour painter Cliff Mann, members of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and many more like these.
"It reinforces the importance of local artists, for the kids," said Redpath. "When I was in school, and if Corey Hardeman or Cliff Mann walked into my classroom, as a child I'd have loved to be taught by someone of that calibre right in my own class - someone who's been in the newspaper, been on TV, won Art Battle, and now working with me. For the artists, really, their job is also partly to inspire."
Teachers are encouraged to call Redpath and talk about what might be available, how to consider the best artist options for that classroom, and who brings their art along with engaging student relations.
Likewise, artists are encouraged to contact Redpath and talk about how to get involved in the Artists In The Schools Program, so lesson plans can be designed and introductions to teachers can be made. Field trips to your studio or creator-space is also a possibility. Some schools might have their own art supplies in your artistic specialty.
"Maybe you have something else in mind," said Redpath. "We have many kinds of art and artists in our community. Let us know what you are looking for and we'll match the artists with the classrooms."
The fees typically range around $170 for a two-hour session, in classrooms with up to 25 students and a teacher. For more information contact Redpath at 250-562-4526 or [email protected].
