Arts Program for South Knoxville

I am an itinerant art teacher with South Knoxville Elementary School in Knoxville, TN, which is a Title 1 school with a 97% free and reduced lunch population and full of fantastic children. The school’s small size of approximately 130 students, means that all of the special area teachers travel or are part-time so the students do not always get the same arts advantages that they might otherwise have in a bigger school. That means that the students are extra excited about every special opportunity they have to learn and experience the arts.

 
I recently applied for a STS grant through the TN Arts Commission to fund two upcoming programs, but an overwhelming demand and a quick depletion of funds for the first-come first-serve program means that for first time in years we did not receive the grant. We were devastated by the news last week, because for most of our children, this is the only arts experience they have during the year that happens outside of the classroom walls. We decided to try to raise enough money to still have the programs, which is why you are now reading this profile. You have been directed by a teacher, friend, family member, community leader, or the whims of the internet to give you a chance to be a hero to our arts department and our kids.

The arts program is a special program for all of the students (124 kids) to experience a shadow puppeteer performing the Tale of Walter Weirdbeard, by the artist Matt Sandbank. This program, scheduled for February 2nd, uses shadow puppets and digital projections to tell a story of pirates who mutiny when they discover a treasure of musty books, only to learn their importance. The strong tie-in to literature class, library, and art will be carried over into the student curriculum with collaborative lessons. This is a program that none of the kids have seen before and I know it will be something unforgettable. The charge is $450 for the performance.

I hope that after reading this you find that you can donate something, and working together, I believe we can provide these students with a wonderful art experience.

Thank you for reading this and supporting the South Knoxville Bears!