Exploring the Arts in Burnaby
Guest Contribution by Lisa Parsonson, Program Consultant, Visual and Performing Arts, Burnaby School District
In July and August, over 220 Burnaby students in ten different locations across the district performed, took photos, drummed, sang, painted, sketched, and sculpted as part of the ExplorArts 2007 programme.
The Burnaby School District received a $50 000 Legacy 2010 grant last spring to help create ten no-cost fine arts camps for elementary students across the district. These two week camps gave interested students who may have difficulty accessing such programs, an opportunity to explore the arts in a fun setting. Each school site had a coordinator and a fine arts specialist who worked together to create an exciting program for their students.
During each of the two week camps, students learned a wide variety of skills, explored new ideas, made new friends and had great fun investigating new materials and processes.
"The arts are a powerful way to help students communicate complex ideas about themselves and their world," said Janey Talbot, Coordinator of Community Education for the District. "These camps were a great place for students to develop their gifts and also have fun doing it."
A huge thank-you to Opus Framing & Art Supplies and their fabulous staff who were such a big support for this program. The students and teachers appreciated receiving "top notch" art supplies to use in the camps. It helped make this experience especially successful.
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