Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Nov/Dec 2016 | Page 21

Union County Community Arts Council
Arts in Education benefits Union County Schools

“Art is the best part of school”,
said one Union County student who
recently wrote a thank you letter to
the Union County Community Arts
Council. “Our school loves all of the
programs you bring to us and all of
the artwork. I like how our school
can get special things because you
help us.”
The Union County Community
Arts Council serves 55 Union County
schools, touching the lives of over
40,000 students each and every year
in all parts of the county.
Students have been receiving arts
programs and services long enough
now that a child who received one
of our programs in kindergarten
is now a parent with children in
school. What a legacy and what an
opportunity!
Children begin
receiving arts
education programs
from the arts council
as 3 and 4- yearolds in daycare
centers throughout
the county. Children
will view the live
performance of
“Goldilocks and the
Three Bears” in
March in Wingate
University’s Batte
Fine Arts Center. “When a child gets to be a part of professional
entertainment it makes such a positive impact on them, entirely
different from television or what they see on their mobile devices.
They walk into a venue awestruck and, after seeing performers on
stage, leave with a little brighter idea of live entertainment”, said
Barbara Faulk, director of the council.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit Union County Community Arts Council
is known as one of the three leading arts organizations in the state
for its focus and dedication to arts education. Arts programs teach
students the value of the arts and deal with real life, promoting
character and moral development. With the full endorsement of
administration, staff, faculty and students, all children in Union
County receive the same cultural benefits regardless of where they
attend school.
The statistics on the value of arts education are impressive and
notable. A student involved in the arts is:
. 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
. 4 times more likely to participate in a math or science fair
. 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance
. low-income students who are highly engaged in the arts are

more than twice as likely to graduate from college as their
peers with no arts education
. 72% of business leaders say that creativity is the number one
skill they are seeking when hiring

Among the programs being
presented this year include the Bright
Star Touring Theater’s production
of “Captain Friendship and the Bully
Bandit” in 31 elementary schools.
The performances are designed
to offer young audiences the
opportunity to stand up to bullying
while empowering themselves in the
process. Other elementary programs
being presented this year include
Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets
special stage production that features
his famous large scale puppets. This
production explores the world of
animals through movement, music
and visual puppetry. Elementary
students will also travel to Wingate
University to view the world-famous
“The Story Pirates” where kid’s
creative ideas and original
stories are turned into wild onstage sketch comedy musicals.
Middle school students in
10 Union County schools will be
a part of the Children’s Theatre
of Charlotte’s production of
“New Kid” during October.
The themes of the show are
prejudice, bullying and cultural
differences. Hispanic Heritage
Month and Black History Month
concerts are planned at Monroe
High School this year.
In addition to the in-school
presentations, the council
sponsors Union County’s largest
art show, the Union County
Student Artist Showcase, in
May. The showcase features
the artwork of over 650
students throughout Union
County. The two-day show
gives young artists the
experience of publically showcasing their talents for thousands of
parents and friends. Students in elementary schools are awarded
certificates of participation and students in middle and high schools
receive award ribbons.
One of the most rewarding services provided by the council is
the Arts in Schools grants made available to all schools for their
individual cultural arts programs. Seventeen school projects were
funded during this year, including support for the purchase of musical
equipment, school murals, kilns for 6 schools in the county and the
formation of a county-wide high school men’s chorus.
Dr. Andrew Houlihan, superintendent of UCPS, commends the
council for the arts in education initiatives and supports efforts to
enhance learning through the arts. –This article was written by
Barbara Faulk, Executive Director, Union County Community Arts
Council

Parent Teacher News • Nov/Dec 2016 • 19