The West Valley Arts Council has long been a champion for arts education throughout the West Valley, a mission that is increasingly important as arts programs are pulled from the public school system. WVAC is already gaining recognition across the state and nation as a significant force in arts education. The Council provides arts education and initiatives that directly serve more than 40,000 children
annually. Students aged 5-19 are provided with arts programming
that, without the Council, would simply not exist. The Council
is uniquely qualified to provide these programs to the region as an organization that serves all types
of arts organizations and art forms.
WVAC Arts Education Programs include:
Arts Advantage: These 60-minute performances feature a variety of artists in order to expose elementary-age students to many art forms. More than 1,000 students participate each year.
KidTix: Free tickets are made available to selected WVAC concerts for students who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend.
Missoula Children’s Theatre: This one-week residency for students aged 5-18 introduces participants them to the world of live theatre. The program starts with auditions and ends with a full staged performance of a classic fairytale. Missoula fills a void for student who would otherwise have to travel outside of the community for theatrical experience.
Summer Arts Camps: A variety of camps for students are held each summer to expose students to theater, dance, music, and visual art. Camps are taught by professional teaching artists and culminate in public exhibits and performances.
Multi-District Partnerships: WVAC continues to build relationships with and offer services to all school districts in the West Valley.
Gallery 37: This school-to-work apprenticeship program results in the creation and permanent placement of a professional piece of public art. Students are exposed to a variety of career opportunities within the arts and are placed in an environment that cultivates interest in furthering their education in the arts.
Arts Education Partnership: A new partnership with four local school districts: Agua Fria, Avondale, Liberty and Litchfield- to improve arts education in the classroom and beyond. The Liberty and Litchfield School District Governing Boards have approved the arts education plans that were created in 2005. The remaining two districts have these scheduled for approval. The advent of arts education plans will strengthen the quality of arts education instruction over the next five years. In addition, WVAC has hired a Multi-District Arts Director to be shared by all members of the partnership and to coordinate implementation of the plans.
Arts Education Partnership with Dysart School District: A partnership to provide arts camps, after school programs, and programming for future facilities. Additionally, WVAC will be helping to create an arts education plan in FY 07.
Artist Residencies: In school events that are related to the performing art series have included: