Celebrating Student Excellence in Visual and Performing Arts


  • April 15, 2016

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AUGUSTA, ME, April 15, 2016— The Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Department of Education, in partnership with the First Lady of Maine, Ann LePage, are proud to announce the second of this year’s celebratory events in Maine’s state capitol for student excellence in visual and performing arts. Everyone is invited to this free public reception in the Hall of Flags on Tuesday, April 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. In addition to the exhibit of more than 60 pieces of student visual art throughout the capitol complex, musicians from Greely High School in Cumberland Center, Maine, will perform. The exhibit represents student excellence in three school districts: MSAD #51 (Cumberland/North Yarmouth), RSU3 (Unity), and AOS91 (Mt. Desert). Maine's First Lady, Ann LePage, will attend to congratulate and honor the students. Joining the First Lady will be Julie Richard, Executive Director of the Maine Arts Commission; Dr. William Beardsley, Commissioner of Education; Martha Harris, State Board of Education Chair; and Charles Stanhope, Maine Arts Commission Chair.

“Nothing speaks to excellence in arts education like the quality of student work,” Julie Richard, Executive Director of the Maine Arts Commission, pointed out. “This partnership to showcase and promote student art is very important to us.”

Student groups which will perform on April 26 include the Greely High School Madrigal Singers, Sarah Bailey, director, and the Greely High School Jazz Combo, Kevin Rollins, advisor from MSAD 51. The singers will perform the National Anthem and an additional song at the reception’s opening, and the jazz combo will close the celebration.

The Excellence in Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education Program is an ongoing partnership between the Maine Arts Commission, Maine Department of Education and Maine's First Lady. It gives young artists the opportunity to have their artwork exhibited throughout the capitol complex and recognizes the high caliber of arts learning and teaching statewide. For each scheduled exhibit, three schools are selected on a first-come, first-serve basis to hang 20 pieces of art per school, as selected by the teachers. Exhibit schedules are full up to a year in advance.

Teachers participating in this exhibit include James Treadwell, Suzannah Wood, and Lynda McCann-Olson from Greely Middle School and McCann-Olson and Joanne Matusko from the Mabel I. Wilson School in MSAD 51; Greg Warren from Monroe Elementary, Morse Memorial, and Walker schools, Linda Ravin from Mount View Elementary School, Eric Phillips from Mount View High School, and Gloria Hewett from Mount View Middle School in RSU 3; and Charles Johnson and Mary Swift from Mount Desert Island High School, Carol Shutt, Mount Desert Elementary School, Robert Sattler, Pemetic School, Chandra Raymond, Swan’s Island School and Tremont Consolidated School, and Connie Barnes, Trenton Elementary School, all in AOS 91.

The Excellence in Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education program rotates with the Arts Commission’s other Art in the Capitol programs year-round, providing the state’s legislators, staff, and general public with daily art and art education experiences in the state capitol. To learn more about the Art in the Capitol program please go to https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Community/Arts-in-the-Capitol.

To learn more about the Excellence in Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education Program, and all of the Maine Arts Commission’s arts education programs and services, please contact Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov or 207-287-2713.

 

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Argy Nestor

Maine Arts Commission
193 State Street
Augusta  ME  04333 

207/287-2713
vog.eniam@rotsen.ygra
www.mainearts.com