MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Dec. 23, 2024) — Piedmont Arts brought five educational outreach programs to area students in December. The programs served more than 1,300 students.
Brass 5 performed the program “Why Music?” for 890 students at Patrick Henry and Meadow View elementary schools on Dec. 3. The quintet played Christmas-themed songs, including a reading of "The Night Before Christmas" with musical accompaniment, and led students in a holiday sing-along. The group performed for students at six schools in Martinsville and Henry County this year, serving a total of 1,940 students.
Preschoolers from Happy Feet Early Learning and Child Center in Martinsville helped deck the halls at the museum on Dec. 3. With help from Mr. and Mrs. Claus — played by Gale Buck and his wife Christy — five students decorated the Christmas tree in the museum’s lobby. The preschoolers also enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate with Santa.
Roscoe Burnems led poetry workshops for seventh and ninth grade students Dec. 9-12 in Martinsville City Public Schools. Burnems is the first poet laureate of Richmond, Va. He taught students the components of poetry and encouraged them to write poetry with deep personal meaning. Participating students shared their finished work at a poetry showcase Dec. 12 at New College Institute. This program was made possible through a partnership between Martinsville City Public Schools and Piedmont Arts.
Buck, again dressed as Santa, entertained 170 preschoolers with Christmas stories on Dec. 12 at Preschool in the Galleries. Smith River Singers performed Christmas songs during the event and led the children in a sing-along.
Fourth grade students from Albert Harris, Axton, Carver and Patrick Henry elementary schools took a field trip to see a performance of “The Nutcracker” by Southwest Virginia Ballet on Dec. 13 in Roanoke, Va. More than 240 students experienced the famed holiday ballet that has become a staple of Southwest Virginia Ballet’s holiday season. Students who participated in the in-school program Dance Español earlier this year and those who will participate in the program in the spring received a special invitation from Southwest Virginia Ballet to attend the event. This trip was made possible through a partnership between Southwest Virginia Ballet and Piedmont Arts.
Piedmont Arts’ educational outreach programs are presented free of charge to students and schools. The museum reaches more than 5,000 students per year with its programming. To make a donation to the museum’s Kay Smith Education Fund, click here.
For more information on educational outreach, exhibits and events, click here.
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