Arts Education

Arts Education Programs

The Madera County Arts Council’s Arts Education Program serves school-age students in Madera County as well as providing programs for adults.

Primary and Secondary School Programs:

MCAC’s Art Education emphasizes providing visiting-artists in county elementary schools by collaborating with city and county schools, parent teacher organization and local foundations. With their support, the Madera County Arts Council brings the Arts to elementary students boosting student motivation, providing both academic and social benefits, and revitalizing the arts in public schools.

MCAC artists work from the Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools (VAPA) in creating their formal lesson plans, and strive for sequential standards-based programs. Through consultations with the teachers at each school, MCAC artists integrate visual arts with the regular curriculum to enhance student learning, while introducing students to art concepts in drawing, photography, weaving, sculpture, watercolor, acrylic painting, and collage, at grade appropriate levels…

2011 -2012 Programs:

• The collaboration between MCAC and the County Office of Education has resulted in continued growth of Club YES (Youth Education and Enrichment at School), an after school program. The program currently serves over 2,000 students on an average day spread among the 28 Club YES school sites. At each site our artists–educators are providing art instruction in different disciplines during four week rotations through out the school year.

• MCAC also partnered with parent –teacher organizations and provided 3 elementary schools with one day a week arts programming in 2010 -2011. This school-day programming will be expanded during 2011 -2012 to more schools in the most rural areas of our county under the auspices of a Chukchansi Community Grant. Any Madera County parent-teacher organization interested in more information about this programming should contact Sherril Royse at 559-661-7005.

• NEA’s Poetry Out Loud brings professional poets, lessons, and performances into 8 area high schools. The public is strongly encouraged to attend the annual recitation. Finalists are selected to represent each school in the county. In February of each year a county-wide recitation contest is held to determine which student has the opportunity to compete in Sacramento for a college scholarship and a chance to go to Washington for the national finals. High school students interested in participating in the February 2012 competition should contact their high school English or Drama Departments.

• Each March MCAC organizes a Youth Art Month show of artwork by students from area high schools at the Circle Gallery. MCAC artists review the submissions and select a “Best of Show,” as well as 1st, 2nd, 3rd places in four categories.

• Club Yes student artwork is featured in a showcase in the lobby of the Madera County Government Center for the month of March.

• MCAC provides scholarships each year to area high schools seniors planning college level studies in the Arts. This scholarship money comes from private donations to MCAC and is distributed by Board members to an average of 5 students per year. MUSD, GVUSD, YUSD, CSD high school students should see their guidance counselors for scholarship application information. Individuals interested in donating directly to the scholarship fund should contact MCAC at 559-661-7005.

Lifelong Learning Opportunities:
• MCAC sponsors/cosponsors various artist education workshops, such as the upcoming watercolor workshop “Composition for Impact,” November 11-13, led by National Watercolor Society president Mike Bailey. http://www.allianceofcaliforniaartists.com/events/workshop.html

• Cultural arts field trips are scheduled during the year. In 2010 -2011 a MCAC group traveled to the De Young Museum, during the exhibition of the Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musee d’Orsay. 2011-2012 trip/s are planned. MCAC members should watch their winter and spring newsletters for further information.

• In the past we have held “Focus on Art” presentations. In these presentations artists from the Circle Gallery have the opportunity to present their work and their expertise to the public.

Summer Art Classes for Children at the Children’s Museum of the Sierra (Oakhurst)

Photography classes (Mondays/Wednesdays). With cameras in hand, children will be introduced to the operation of digital cameras including zoom, wide angle, video, and flash features.  Students will learn about composition, point of view, angles, shadows, and how to make use of natural lighting.  Time permitting, class projects will include self-portraits and plastic animal dioramas (Students use available settings—gravel, grass, puddles—and plastic animals to create the illusion of real animal activity).  The same material will be covered in the elementary and middle school classes with some changes in pace, vocabulary, and depth appropriate to age levels.  Selections of student work will be saved on individual CD disks that will be distributed to the children to take home at the end of the course.  All lessons will include new vocabulary and concepts.

Painting and Drawing (Tuesdays/Fridays).  Students will have the opportunity to learn to make simple animal drawings, add texture to a drawing, and paint one of their drawings in watercolor.  Children will explore the geometry of animal shapes further in their creation of origami animals.  All lessons will include new vocabulary and concepts, composition, point of view and color values.  Some lessons will include discussions of different art traditions—Native American, European, and Asian.  Older children will also have the opportunity to learn to use charcoal, acrylic paint, and colored pencils.  Class projects will include a bright Rousseau-like crayon resist (younger class) and water color renditions of Van Gogh’s sunflowers (middle school class).

Photography Instructor:  Diana Baldrica graduated from Fresno State University with a B.A. in Art, and went on to receive a Masters Degree in Art.  She has more than 20 years of experience as a photographer for the Fresno Bee. A photojournalist turned teacher, Ms Baldrica is presently an adjunct instructor at Fresno City College and an art teacher in the Madera County Club YES program. Her lessons focus on developing visual skills and helping children practice the art of seeing.  Students explore self-portraiture, still life, and action photography.

Painting and Drawing Instructor:  Sherril Royse graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor’s degree in Art.  She has worked with Madera County Arts Council for 17 years with increasing levels of responsibility.  She is presently overseeing a number of our programs including Club YES, Artists in the School, Poetry out Loud, Mountain Schools Visiting Artists Program, et al.