What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1465662
APRIL 24-30, 2022 WHAT'S UP! 39 WAC AT 30 been steadfast," says Relph. "We continue to bring great artists and entertainers from around the world to Northwest Arkansas, connecting and engaging people through inspiring arts experiences." Relph says the educational component of the arts center has always been "a fundamental part of who we are," starting with community leaders like Billie Jo Starr and Frank Sharp, "and others, who know that we are all life-long learners in and through the arts." Even before the doors opened, "in 1991 Walton Arts Center, along with Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative, joined nine Partnership Teams and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in order to increase students' access to the arts through professional development for teachers." "The arts teach us how to be learners," says Relph, who is known to thousands of current and previous students as "Dr. Pat." "Students need to be critical and creative thinkers. The discipline of the arts helps us practice those kinds of thinking. Students need to be collaborative, empathetic team members. The arts teach us how to work collaboratively. Students need to engage in real-life activities, where they can safely think, share, innovate and create on a daily basis. The craft and practice of the arts helps us do that. Children need to strengthen all parts of the brain. The arts help us think and solve problems, logically, linguistically, spatially, kinesthetically, musically and with trust in ourselves and each other. Educational research supports this. "We have a goal that every student in Northwest Arkansas can experience a Walton Arts Center educational program," she adds. "Walton Arts Center knows that arts education has positive effects on student learning and social and emotional intelligence." "Our Colgate Classroom Series has allowed more than 900,000 students and teachers to see shows at free or reduced costs," Wilson enumerates. "Participation in the program became free in 2020. "We have trained 296 teachers in arts integration through the smART Residency Program, which has directly impacted 7,420 students and provided professional development and additional training opportunities to 17,497 teachers, which has impacted 437,425 students. "Walton Arts Center has also hosted more than 700 school and community master classes, where artists teach those interested in the performing arts, many times for free. "In total, Walton Arts Center has proudly raised more than $24 million for arts education and outreach in Northwest Arkansas through the support of more than 8,500 families and 430 corporations and foundations." Since her arrival at WAC, Relph says, "the changes are in scope and scale. We grow by conceiving and creating greater projects that are of duration and involve many artists. We present programs indoors and outdoors. Our aim is to engage all cultures and communities, to reach audiences broadly through inspiring arts experiences." Education Continued From Page 7 Billie Jo Starr (left) and Helen Walton celebrate the opening of the Walton Arts Center 30 years ago. (Courtesy Photo/WAC) The WAC's red brick facade has been updated since the opening in 1992. (Courtesy Photo/WAC)