Summer programs get LEAP students excited about Art 08/11/09

While school art classrooms across the country are empty, silently waiting to spring to life in September, LEAP Academy students have spent the summer developing their creativity in special art activities across South Jersey. 

With funding from LEAP Academy’s Art Fund and the 21st Century Community Learning Center’s afterschool program, 80 young artists at LEAP have participated in arts education programs this summer.  Activities have included field trips to art studios in the area and participation in summer art camps like the Perkins Center for the Arts. 

“Summer activities keep students interested and involved in art.  It’s a way for them to express themselves,” said Elementary school art teacher Nina Speart, who has supervised the summer activities.  “It also gets students excited for the upcoming school year and gets them involved with their peers and their parents.” 

In July a group of 16 elementary students and several parents visited the Color Me Mine Paint-Your-Own-Pottery art studio in Voorhees, NJ.  Students were allowed to select and paint bisque ware like piggy banks and coffee mugs, picture frames, and bowls. 

Also that month 20 students traveled to The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, which promotes ceramic arts.  Two groups of 10 students received a two-hour workshop on wheel throwing, a demonstration on decorating, and time to decorate the ceramics. 

These trips were financed by LEAP Academy’s Art Fund, which is funded through student art auctions like the Rutgers/LEAP Gala Silent auction or Elementary Art Show.  During the 2008-09 school year, 52 students sold artwork and raised a total of $1200 for the fund. 

Nina said incentives like the art auctions and field trips have peaked student interest in art.  “Students now try their best to get their work chosen for the art show so they have the chance to go on one of the trips,” she said.  “Starting as early as September, students are talking to each other and asking me ‘do you think this will be picked for the art show?’”

LEAP has also created opportunities for its youngest artists.  With funding from the 21st Century Program, 24 students in grades K-6 attended Summer Camp at the Perkins Center for the Arts in July.  The two-week programs offered elementary students the chance to study a range of art styles, like drawing, painting, dance, and music. 

Meanwhile, with the 2009-10 school year approaching, Nina is trying to organize two additional field trips to Color Me Mine or The Clay Studio in September and is beginning to work with students to develop artwork for this year’s auctions.  “Students have found something that they are good at and enjoy and get a reward from,” she said.  “It’s made a major difference during the school year.”

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