me arts ed

What a weekend!

I rushed home on Friday afternoon so I could leave for the Maine Drama Festival at Camden Hills High School. As I settled into my seat I had goose bumps as I imagined the over 1000 students sitting in auditoriums and performing arts centers in nine locations throughout Maine all participating in the festival.

Strom Auditorium audience, photo by Dagney Ernest

I watched as George Stevens Academy, Georges Valley High School and Erskine Academy students performed to a packed audience. The sets, costumes, make-up, sound and light effects, and acting were outstanding. I was ready for some light hearted fun and the evening ended with Erskine Academy’s very funny performance of Why I Shouldn’t Eat Chili Before I Go To Bed. I left feeling content and was sorry I couldn’t return on Saturday afternoon and evening to watch the remaining One-Act performances. Congratulations to all the students and teachers and many others who helped make the festival so successful!

The state finals are scheduled for March 20 and 21st. Class A will be held at Bangor High School and Class B will be held at Rockland High School. For the regional results please go to the Maine Drama Festival web page. The festival is coordinated by the Maine Drama Council and the Maine Principals’ Association.

On Saturday night I traveled to the Portland Museum of Art to attend the opening of the annual State Youth Art Month (YAM) exhibit. The excitement of the students and the pride of the parents was evident as students in grades K through grade 12 located their art work on display in the 4 different exhibit spaces.

I noticed many students standing by their art work for a photo opportunity that will help them remember for years to come the special moment in time. And each student was recognized in the auditorium during a ceremony when they were called to the stage to receive their certificate and art pin.

Congratulations and a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Stacy Rodenberger, Coordinator of School Programs for the museum and Maine Art Education Association, Manon Lewis and Tory Tyler-Millar, YAM exhibit coordinators.

The exhibit will remain until March 29th. Endorsed by the National Art Education Association, Youth Art Month, is a national annual observance, to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs.