Lakes Area Arts League hosts Youth Art Month Shelby County

Center, TX – The Lakes Area Arts League announces an open call for entries for the upcoming Youth Art Month Shelby County Student Exhibition. The exhibition will be held Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 20, 2009 at the LAAL Art Center, 305 Nacogdoches Street, Center, TX, one block from the historic downtown Center square.

The art exhibition is open to all area students in grades 6th through 12th currently enrolled in any Shelby County school, including home school students. Students may submit one (1) piece of artwork by the entry deadline Saturday, February 7, 2009.

Everyone in the community and surrounding area is encouraged to support Youth Art Month (YAM), an annual observance held each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs. Planned celebrations recognizing March as Youth Art Month will begin on Monday, March 2 with two events at the LAAL Art Center including an opening reception for the student art exhibition from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and a proclamation ceremony with Mayor John Dean Windham scheduled at 4:00 p.m.

Gallery dates and times during the student art exhibition include Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The exhibit will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Youth Art Month was created in 1961 by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), a non-profit association of art and craft materials manufacturers, in cooperation with the National Art Education Association (NAEA). In 1984, ACMI created the Council for Art Education (CFAE) to administer the national Youth Art Month program and encourage funding for the program. Current members of the Council include: ACMI, which provides all administrative support and the majority of funding for National Youth Art Month; NAEA, whose members carry out local Youth Art Month activities and whose state affiliates help fund state Youth Art Month programs; The SHIP, a group of art materials exhibit the annual NAEA Convention; and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, a volunteer organization dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service. Other involved organizations include the Association of Crafts & Creative Industries, Hobby Industries Association and National Art Materials Trade Association.

For details regarding the student art exhibition, including entry specifications and the location to receive the artwork, please contact coordinators for Youth Art Month Shelby County, Donna Neuville, 936.598.3278, Nancy Dickerson, 936.598.7335 or Carlene Higgins, 936.554.5095.

Donna Neuville currently teaches Art I and Art II at Center Middle School where she has been an art instructor for the past four years. Previously, she taught art at the primary level with CISD for three years and at Mineola Elementary School for ten years. Her educational background includes obtaining her degrees in M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Art Concentration and B.S. in Education from the University of Texas in Tyler. Neuville currently serves on the LAAL board of directors and Education Committee.

Nancy Dickerson presently teaches Art I, Art II, PreAP, AP Studio Art and creative writing at Center High School. She has taught private art lessons and is involved in an internet Artist Trading Card forum. Dickerson is also a teaching consultant for the National Writing Project and presents writing-based workshops for school districts. She holds a BA in art and English from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) and has taught at Center High School for 27 years.

Carlene Higgins began teaching art at Center Intermediate School in August 2008. Higgins graduated SFA in 2004 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree with double majors in Fine Arts and Drafting. Her special interest includes Raku ceramics and creates original artwork at her home studio.

The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

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