WMA awarded $2,500 for youth education programming
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Posted by: Staff
Date: Mar 01 2018 12:41 PM
DOTHAN: The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) is pleased to announce it has received a $2,500 award from the Support the Arts License Tag Fund, given by the Alabama Arts License Tag Grant Program. The money will be used to support youth education programming at the museum, including Bus on Us, a program started in 2017 to reimburse transportation costs for Dothan City and Houston County public school students to visit WMA; the development of digital learning opportunities for students and online lesson plans for Alabama teachers; Youth Art Month, an annual exhibition of K-12 art held every March at WMA and other museums across the United States; and the Out of the (Art) Box high school installation competition held at WMA every year during Youth Art Month.
WMA works to fill the gap in art instruction in public schools in the Wiregrass and around the state by providing area students with access to art education programming. Because of budget shortfalls, many public schools have chosen to cut art programming, and the museum has dedicated itself to providing support for teachers who must still meet the arts learning standards outlined in the Alabama Course of Study Standards found in the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX), a resource website for educators in the state.
"We know that students who attend field trips to art museums display improved critical thinking skills, historical empathy, and tolerance. Not only are WMA's programs filling a gap in art education in our schools, but they are promoting the development of skills that are critical for students entering the workforce," said WMA Director and Curator Dana-Marie Lemmer.
In addition to supporting WMA's Bus on Us transportation reimbursement program, money from the award will be used to buy art supplies, pay stipends for visiting artists to mentor students at WMA, purchase photographic equipment to develop digital learning opportunities, and mount the monthlong Youth Art Month exhibition.
"Each of our programs responds to a need in our community, and we're honored to have the continued support of the Alabama Arts License Tag Grant Program to provide access to our students as well as free resources to our educators," said Lemmer.
"Each of our programs responds to a need in our community, and we're honored to have the continued support of the Alabama Arts License Tag Grant Program to provide access to our students as well as free resources to our educators," said Lemmer.
WMA's youth education programs are also supported by the Houston County Commission, the Southeast Alabama Community Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, and Dothan Pediatric Dentistry - Dr. Flowers and Dr. Crowder.
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