GREAT OPPORTUNITIES

PFW  continues to work with  a truly dedicated educator, Mrs. Bari Pollyea to bring  the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education’s program, Artists-In-Schools to Olde Orchard Elementary School.  We first helped  Mrs.Pollyea  bring  this program   to  Hubbard Elementary School  which was a  reading centric inner city before it was shut down.   The Artists-in-Schools program connects students with professional teaching artists in the visual and performing arts.  These artists offer high quality workshops, residencies and assembly programs designed to supplement and enhance  a school’s academic curricula. The Literacy Committee  at Olde Orchard chose three artists whose performances complimented the teachers’ lesson plans.  Olde Orchard is located on the East side of Columbus.  The student populations represents 20 different countries with 10% being special education students.  As funding for the arts has been dramatically cut in Ohio and arts programs having been eliminated in some school districts, PFW is very proud that we have been able to bring artists to the schools, as many schools cannot even afford busses to reach events which could enlarge their students’ horizons.  The Arts, as you friends of Puffin West know, help children develop creativity, gives them confidence when they participate and help them with decision making as they learn to express themselves through dance, music, theatre, and etc.  The Arts also introduce children to different cultures from around the world which possibly can make them more tolerant.  Puffin’sMission statement states that “Sometime you do have to step in to make things right” and certainly providing grant support to bring ARTISTS INTO THE CLASSROOMS at Olde Orchard was the right and bright thing to do! 

OUR FRIENDS AT THE OHIO ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION POSTED THE FOLLOWING  AND IT CERTAINLY IS WORTH REPOSTING

Ohio State Fair Youth Arts Exhibition

The Ohio State Fair is now accepting entries for its Youth Arts Exhibition. The contest is open to Ohio youth in grades 1-12, and offers $4,700 in awards and prizes. Students are not required to participate in a county fair in order to enter at the Ohio State Fair.

In addition to the individual awards, the school with the greatest number of entries will receive a $1,500 voucher for art supplies from Dick Blick.

The entry deadline is June 20, 2016.

AND NOW FOR SOME REALLY GREAT NEWS

 The Ohio Arts Council’s Big Yellow School Bus program provides up to $500 to cover travel expenses to transport students to and from an arts and cultural field trip destination. Applications are taken on a rolling basis, with applications due no later than eight weeks prior to the date of the proposed event. Learn more.