Reunion Big Band event

Author: Anne Stephens

Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences

In the early years of the River Days Festival in Portsmouth, Ohio, local band directors had the vision to feature their favorite genre of music, live Big Band Jazz, as part of the community celebration. 35 years later, the Big Band Jazz sounds are still being played and enjoyed in Portsmouth on Labor Day weekend. This historic concert event has evolved from an American Federation of Musicians sponsored event to being fully supported by community sponsors. Thirty years ago, Julian Mohr, foun

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AppleFest Programming Fosters Community Engagement and Fine Motor Skill Development for Youth

Author: Allison Denny

Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences

For very young children, making art is a sensory exploration activity. They enjoy the feeling of a crayon moving across paper and seeing a blob of colored paint grow larger. Kamii and DeVries (1993) suggested that exploring materials is very important because it is through exploration that children build a knowledge of the objects in the world around them. Therefore, it is critical to provide unique and "outside of the box" opportunities and methods for children to create and explore w

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Art and Literature Connection - Early Elementary

Author: Kristy Porter

Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences

The problemOur County Extension Council asked that, as a county, we offer programs targeted to young children. Studies have shown that intertwining literature with visual and expressive arts helps children improve their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.The educational program responseThe Pike County Extension Community Arts program partnered with a local elementary school to introduce Art and Literature Connection, a program aimed at increasing reading comprehension, excitement

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Hart County Homemakers Learn about Screen Printing during Art with Allison

Author: Allison Denny

Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences

Over the years, members of the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association have expressed a strong desire for arts programming within their meetings and areas. This has led to the development of the Cultural Arts and Heritage Program within the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association. According to the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association Handbook, the Cultural Arts and Heritage Program aims to introduce participants to the elements and principles of art through definitions and examples, whi

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Community Arts Pottery Expansion Success 2023-2024

Author: Jessica Evans

Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences

Pottery is a tactile and versatile art medium that heightens the mind body relationship, provides both immediate and delayed gratification, and develops skills for participants in control, aesthetic design, the relation between function and form, and patience. While the creation of pottery is one of the oldest and simplest forms of art, newcomers to pottery are often intimidated by the steep learning curve that exists for mastery of the material, time necessary for completion of projects (start

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