CHENANGO COUNTY– The Chenango Arts Council is currently in the process of forming summer workshops in its effort to provide the community with quality arts enrichment opportunities for adults and children alike.
According to Arts Council Director Diane Batson-Smith, the Council is taking measures to insure that children and families from all areas of the County are offered opportunities to be engaged in the arts throughout the summer months.
“We're reaching out to all the school districts throughout Chenango county now [in February] to get the word out early,” said Batson-Smith. “We want all students, educators and parents especially to know about these programs we've developed to inspire creativity for school-aged children; and to know that there's things to do right here in Chenango County.”
At an age when children are all to complacent to spend their summer facing a computer, T.V. or tablet, Batson-Smith and CAC Marketing Director Alecia O'Neill stress the importance of providing quality creative outlets.
Batson-Smith and O'Neill say there's no question that involvement in the arts among school aged children compliments a number developmental benefits including motor skills, language development and decision making.
“There is absolutely a correlation between art and other achievement including improved academic performance and visual learning,” said Batson-Smith. “It's been proven that young people who participate regularly in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement – to participate in a math or science fair or to win an award for writing an essay.
The Chenango Arts Council Kids’ Summer Theatre Program in partnership with Norwich Theater Company offers Chenango County student in grades five though 12 an extensive yet fun program that offers introductory exposure to the theater and sage acting at the Council's Martin Kappel Theater.
The program will run from July 5 through August 5, with morning sessions operating from 9 a.m. to noon continuing into the afternoon from 1 – 4 p.m. The five-week camp will end with a compilation performance of “The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School” on Thursday, August 4th, clean-up and “cast party” on Friday August 5.
This exciting new workshop will not only teach the students everything entailed in “putting on a show”, it will give them real life skills, instill self-esteem and confidence, and expose them to concepts, people and experiences they might not have otherwise.
