From SMARTS-This year’s second annual Spring Arts Festival is a collaborative project between the Youngstown City Schools (YCS), the Rotary Club of Youngstown, and SMARTS, Students Motivated by the Arts that focuses on Rotary International’s Operation Pollination initiative. The goal of this initiative is to educate and inform the public about the decline of pollinating species around the globe while using the arts to reinforce curriculum standards.
“The partnership with Youngstown City Schools and SMARTS is a natural fit. With SMARTS leading Youngstown Rotary Club is able to assist in bringing the scholars of YCS an artful experience that is second to none,” says Samantha Turner, Past President of the Rotary Club of Youngstown.
Bridget Lambright-Tommelleo, STEAM Curriculum Supervisor for Youngstown City Schools, describes the importance of the Spring Arts Festival: “Last year’s festival was such an amazing opportunity for scholars to showcase their public speaking, designing, drawing, creative writing, and painting skills. Combining literacy and the arts is a widely recognized, research-based method that makes learning fun instead of cumbersome. So, adding a little healthy competition and field trips to SMARTS are the cherries on top!”
SMARTS has created a six-day STEAM unit for YCS English Language Arts (ELA) teachers on pollinators which includes lesson plans, slideshows, and rubrics. This curriculum asks students to read a book about their pollinator (bees, butterflies, bats, and lemurs) and then conduct their own research to learn about the unique challenges their pollinator faces.
YCS students created art in all of SMARTS' five arts disciplines – visual art, music, dance, theater, and creative writing – as individuals or in groups to demonstrate artistically what they learned about pollinators. Their art has to have an artistic message, inform the audience about pollinators, have developed ideas, and be presented clearly. Artwork can be on paper, video, or three-dimensional.
In addition to the SMARTS pollinator curriculum that YCS ELA teachers are following, this year, SMARTS developed curriculum extensions that could be implemented in arts classrooms along with the ELA classrooms. This invites YCS teachers to collaborate with each other in the implementation and execution of a cross-discipline curriculum, which studies show reinforces students’ learning. SMARTS has received over 100 pieces of artwork which will be on display at this year’s festival. “SMARTS is excited to connect quality arts teaching and learning to YCS students and teachers. The opportunity for them to see their art in a creative and professional setting will inspire them to see the world beyond their classroom and to see themselves represented positively in their community. SMARTS is grateful to the YCS and Rotary Club of Youngstown for their partnership in this project,” said Becky Keck, SMARTS President.
Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for three grade brackets (K-4, 5-8, 9-12), and 24 honorable mentions will be awarded. There will also be a Best in Show for each of the five arts disciplines. YCS students attending the field trips to SMARTS and the public attending on Saturday will be able to vote for the Student’s and People’s Choice Awards.
Students will have field trip experiences at SMARTS on April 18, 19, and 20 from 11 am-1:30 pm to see all of the artwork created and participate in arts experiences. The general public and students and their families are invited to see the Spring Arts Festival Exhibit on Saturday, April 22, from 11:00 am-2:00 pm at SMARTS. There will be hands-on art activities for children of all ages at this public event.
SMARTS is located in the heart of historic downtown at the Ohio One Building, 25 E. Boardman St, First Floor, Youngstown, OH 44503. SMARTS is a stand-alone, 501c3 Community Art School that offers free classes in visual art, music, dance, theater, and creative writing to PK-12 students.