Arts Connection: AfterSchool Programs
Lane Arts Council's YouthArts program is the arts partner with Lane ESD and its McKenzie, Junction City, and Oakridge School Districts Consortium.
Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced a five-year 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant in 2009 to Lane ESD's Consortium to support non-school time programs.
The grant will provide $480,000 each year for the next three years, with funds reduced proportionately in years four and five. The Lane ESD proposal was funded at the highest possible level in the 2009 grant round. ($7.4 million was awarded statewide to 19 applicants.)
$45,000 of the grant's annual budget is contracted with Lane Arts Council for collaborative arts program, with Lane Arts Council. The funds will involving artists after-school (Junction City) and Friday (McKenzie and Oakridge) programs.
History of the Programs
Young people in Lane County have participated for over 15 years in Summerarts and After-school programs through Lane Arts Council's Arts Connection, a collaboration with communities, schools, and other organizations to build high-quality, affordable non-school time arts activities for children and families.
The Explorers Club at Veneta Elementary, 2004-2008, was the most recent program, concluding December 2008. Explorer's Club teaching artists in 2008 included Annette Rothweiler, Robin Marks-Fife, Carolyn Quinn, Andrew Teem, Reno McAdams, Mindy Brady, Andrea DiPalma, and Merit Ferrell. Jenny Ramsey was the energetic Explorer's Club coordinator.
We offer our heartful thanks to the many leaders, volunteers, teens, and artists who have participated over the years, serving hundreds of area youth.
Explorers Club was a 2004-2008 Lane Arts Council program, Veneta Elementary's 21st Century Community Learning Center, in partnership with Veneta Elementary, Fern Ridge School District, Fern Ridge Library District and YouthArts. Explorers Club was supported by a Oregon Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, though the Lane Arts Council, and community support through individual and business donations.
County-wide: For more information about YouthArts call 541-485-2278.
Janas Durkee visits young artists at Summer Explorers Club, July 2008)
Inspired by Nature
The finished artwork on display at the Applegate Galley, May 7, with the TeenTeam who worked with lead Artist Annette Rottweiler. Artwork will be installed in Veneta City Hall.
“Inspired by Nature” took flight at the YouthArts Explorers Club in Veneta, Oregon, in 2007-2008. Supported by the Charlotte Martin Foundation and an Oregon Department of Education's 21st Century Learning Center grant, the tile-and-painted work is installed in Veneta City Hall and the City of Veneta City produced a 2009 wall calendar with its images.
The Fern Ridge area, located 20 miles west of Eugene, includes Fern Ridge Lake and the rural communities of Veneta, Elmira, Walton, and Noti. The natural landscape supports one of the largest bird watching and wildlife refuges in Lane County. On International Bird Migration Day, the community celebrates their unique landscape with the Wings and Wine Festival, May 10, 2008. During this celebration, the town, vineyards, and wildlife areas, join together to host a variety of walks, talks, and demonstrations about bird migration, species, and habitats in the local area.
Details: As part of this year’s celebration, the “Inspired by Nature” artwork will hang at the community center’s youth art exhibit featuring aviary images created by local youth. The intergenerational community arts project, supported by the Charlotte Martin Foundation through a grant to Lane Arts Council, will engage local youth from kindergarten through high school. The “Inspired by Nature” project took flight this January and February (2008) as 72 Veneta Elementary School students began building art and natural science skills through the study of bird migration, habitats, and species found in their rich local environment. Working with local artist and bird enthusiast Annette Rothweiler, students (Grades K-5) at the Explorers Club After-school Program practiced skills of scientific observation, drawing, watercolor, and clay tile design. Colored pencil drawings of the Mallard Duck, Goldfinch, Osprey, Red-tailed hawk and Warbler came to life with an amazing sense of accuracy and detail. The images were then transferred to clay tiles, glazed, and fired during the first phase. During March, teen artists will work with elementary students in the design and execution of the community artwork celebrating the area’s rich natural environment. The finished piece will then be gifted to the City of Veneta during the May event in thanks for the 15 years of scholarship support given to the summer arts program.
