Arts Arising Summer Program in 25th year at Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County
The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC) is producing the 25th year of the Arts Arising Summer Program, which began in 1988 through a partnership with the Kershaw County School District. Third through sixth grade students identified as gifted or talented in visual art, music, drama and dance audition for the program. Since its inception, Arts Arising has reached more than 2,900 students in the community. This year, more than 120 children from Kershaw County schools are participating.
During the month of June, students spend two to four weeks on the campus of the Fine Arts Center, where the depth of instruction and an atmosphere of total arts immersion define each day. Third-grade students stay two weeks and perform a showcase their last day. Older students continue several more weeks and write, produce, and perform a showcase at the end of the month for parents and family members.
Comprehensive classes in the students’ strong arts areas are coupled with interdisciplinary classes and daily performances by, and discussions with, visiting professional artists. Curricula materials stress advanced understanding, skills, and knowledge in the arts, as well as an exploration of the many roles of the artist: critic, historian, aesthetician, producer and performer. Arts Arising students are provided the opportunity to:
- expand knowledge, technique, and practice in a chosen art form.
- study art forms and their common elements and principles in a variety of disciplines.
- experience first-hand the work of professional artists.
- refine problem-solving and self-evaluation skills through self-discovery, experimentation and research.
- express feelings, moods, problems, and solutions verbally, in writing, and through various modes of artistic expression.