Arts in the Schools
Arts in the Schools
Creativity Beyond Age
Cheryl Avenel-Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity council; Justin Beck, chair of Hutchinson Public Arts Commission, president of Hutchinson Center for the Arts, photography, music; Judy Beckman: vocal music, Big Stone Arts Council, Big Stone County Historical Society, Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce CEO; Cheri Buzzeo: theater, music, The Barn Theatre administration, Willmar Main St participant; Jessica Welu: writing, music, SW Regional Development Commission; Anna Johannsen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women's Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician, Hinterland Art Crawl board; Shawn Kinsinger: theater director, actor, musician, Palace Theatre executive director, Green Earth Players vice president, Luverne Street Music board member, Luverne High School Theater artistic director; Darlene Kotelnicki: theater, city council, library board. Cheryl Avenel Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity Council volunteer; Kylie Rieke: ceramics, murals, music, theater, T-Bird Community Arts Board; Kristine Shelstad: visual arts, Madison Mercantile art gallery, Madison Arts Council, Lac qui Parle Players; VFW; Gillian Singler, MN West Community and Technical College chair of Humanities and English instructor, Creative Healing Space volunteer, writer, theater director; Michele Knife Sterner: theater (actor), SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Pipestone Performing Arts Center board, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB director; Mark Wilmes: Lake Benton Opera House board president, actor/director, musician, reporter;
Cynthia Demers, visual art, education; Georgette Jones, theater, education, SMAC board; Patricia Lindeman, music, writing, education; Joyce Meyer, visual art, education; Kaia Nowatzki, visual art, theater, music; Mark Wilmes, theater, SMAC board.
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, Nicole DeBoer (507) 537-1471
ACHF Arts Education
This project takes what we have been learning in school and put it into practice. The projects both in creating art with elders and documenting the experience provide life skills way beyond a graded assignment. The impact on how we interact with others while creating could help change the perspectives we have towards each other. Documenting the sessions will help persuade others to look at art without the barrier of age. It may also create conversations about art and how it can translate to positive community-building experiences. The documentary and the photo essays will be measurable in themselves but we will also be having a discussion on the experience during the final event. We will be recording that conversation. We are looking to see personal connections, seeing interactions between the students and the elders they worked with, and a willingness to continue doing something like this in the future.
The project had a significant impact on both the students and the community. The project went from just creating art to a much more personal relationship. Firstly, the students developed a deeper sense of empathy and understanding as they interacted with