Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County’s Arts Arising Program in Full Swing

CAMDEN, SC – The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC) is proud to host and produce the Arts Arising Summer Program on its campus again this year. This special arts program began in 1988 through a partnership with the Kershaw County School District and this year, more than 120 children from Kershaw County schools are participating.

What is the Arts Arising program?

Arts Arising is an arts immersion program serving third through sixth grade artistically gifted and talented students. In its 25th year, this collaborative effort serves between 120-140 students each year. Since its inception, this program has reached more than 2,900 students in the community. These students spend two to four weeks each summer in this extraordinary program on the campus of the Fine Arts Center where the depth of instruction and an atmosphere of total arts immersion define each day. Third-grade students stay two weeks and perform a showcase their last day. Older students continue several more weeks and write, produce, and perform a showcase at the end of the month for parents and family members.

Arts Arising allows students and teachers to totally immerse themselves in the arts. Comprehensive classes in the students’ strong arts areas—music, visual art, dance, and theatre—are coupled with interdisciplinary classes and daily performances by, and discussions with, visiting professional artists. Curricula materials stress advanced understanding, skills, and knowledge in the arts, as well as an exploration of the many roles of the artist: critic, historian, aesthetician, producer and performer. Arts Arising students are provided the opportunity to:

• expand knowledge, technique, and practice in a chosen art form.
• study art forms and their common elements and principles in a variety of disciplines.
• experience first-hand the work of professional artists.
• refine problem-solving and self-evaluation skills through self-discovery, experimentation and research.
• express feelings, moods, problems, and solutions verbally, in writing, and through various modes of artistic expression.

“The Arts Arising program provides excellent arts opportunities for our artistically gifted students every summer. Participation in the program is highly sought year after year because of the quality of the programming,” said Dr. Alisa Taylor, Kershaw County School District Executive Director for K-12 Instructional Support Systems. “This unique model for serving artistically gifted students at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County serves to educate our students about the arts and culture, instills a love of the arts, and encourages students to develop skills that can benefit them throughout a lifetime.”

Jami Steele, Director of Education and Theatre says she is always impressed with how intelligent and inquiring the students are. “Our visiting artists, professionals in their craft, often comment on the high level of artistic knowledge that our students display when questioning the artists about their performance and their area of expertise,” she said.

The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County is located at 810 Lyttleton Street in Camden. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Thursday 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. For more information please about the FAC call 803-425-7676 extension 300 or visit the FAC website at www.fineartscenter.org.

The Fine Arts Center is funded in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding provided by the City of Camden, Kershaw County, and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina along with donations from businesses and individuals.

Image: Participants listen intently to their instructor, Scott Vaughn during rehearsal for the 3rd grade showcase.