Clay Community Arts program reaches nearly 300 students in first year
Release Date: 7/13/2009 1:00:00 PMDateline (city): Charleston
Contact:
Katrina Harmon
kharmon@theclaycenter.org
Attachment: communityarts_071309.pdf
Clay Community Arts program reaches nearly 300 students in first year
(Charleston, W.Va.) 7/13/09 – The Clay Center wrapped up the first year of its Clay Community Arts program with many successes for the 15 instructors and 297 students enrolled since last summer. Programming reached out to inner city Charleston and Mason, Clay, Lincoln, Logan and Mingo counties.
One fifth grader, Kaleb Kirk of Mingo County, recently demonstrated how an education in the arts can positively affect learning in other subject areas. Clay Community Arts instructor Heidi Muller taught dulcimer lessons once a week at the Able Families after-school project.
Clay Community Outreach Manager Kate McComas said Muller noticed that Kirk was having trouble in a group class, so she provided private lessons for him. He excelled in his lessons and learned the songs quicker than any other students.
In school, Kirk decided to focus his social studies project on the topic, “Why is the dulcimer important in West Virginia?” He included photos of his dulcimer instructor and played a brief song with the instrument during his presentation. After taking first place in the social studies fairs for his school, his county and the region, he went on to earn the top award in his division for the statewide competition in May.
“We are so excited about the many successes we have accomplished so far with this program,” said McComas. “It’s excellent to have the resources to help students like Kaleb achieve a better learning experience in not just the arts, but in other subject areas as well.”
In the last year, Clay Community Arts has offered music lessons for various instruments. In Lincoln County, musician Robin Kessinger taught guitar lessons while retired band teacher Chuck Mohnacky taught clarinet, flute, trumpet, saxophone and drums. Additionally, two steel drum bands are now developing in Lincoln and Clay County high schools as a result of the program.
Clay Community Arts was created in 2006 with the mission to enhance the quality of life by providing community-based educational opportunities in the arts and sciences throughout the state. Goals for next year’s program include adding another school to the Lincoln County programming, adding more student performances at the Clay Center and increasing the number of students involved.
For more information on educational programming at the Clay Center, visit www.theclaycenter.org.