Philosophy

Exposure to all of the arts disciplines – visual art, theater, music, and dance – is essential for the total development of human beings. We believe that the arts are basic to the total curriculum and to life. Quality arts education encourages individual creative expression as well as appreciation of the arts of all cultures and all times. Arts are basic to realizing our fullest human potential. Therefore the Three Rivers visual arts curriculum provides:

• a developmentally appropriate art program for all learners;
• a sequential art program for all students in grades K-12;
• opportunities for participation in art criticism, art history, art production, and aesthetics;
• exposure to the arts of many cultures to affect appreciation of cultural diversity;
• exploration of arts careers and the role of the arts in our daily lives.

Goals

The Arts Goals for individual students are contained in these essential components:

• All students should be provided with skills to participate in all of the arts at levels of expertise appropriate to their interest and development.
• All students should experience arts processes in the learning activities of the entire curriculum.
• All students should understand the role of the arts in the historical development of our culture and in the cultures of others.
• All students should be familiar with many forms of expression from many cultures.
• All students should develop skills in recognizing the thematic and formal relationships among different forms of expression
• All students should acquire skills in developing their own criteria for making aesthetic judgments.

Achievements

• Empty Bowls – Three Rivers Emergency Care Network food site has received nearly $12,000 in donations after 6 years from our efforts at the Empty Bowl Soup Supper held in February.
• Countywide High School Student Art Exhibit at Carnegie Center for the Arts in downtown Three Rivers
• Artworks Day facilitators for Art careers awareness day for 5th graders at Glen Oaks Community College
• Participation in Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority Outdoor Mural Project (summer; Conrad Kaufman, artist)
• Ceramic Tile Murals located in Norton Elementary School and Andrews Elementary School.
• Three Rivers Student Art Show annual show held in May at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in downtown Three Rivers.
• College Art Scholarship Recipients from Three Rivers High School
• Wendy’s Restaurant celebrates Youth Art Month with a Kindergarten-5th grade Art Exhibit in March.
• A day of Artistic Awareness at the Carnegie Center for the Arts for 4th grade students includes Visual Arts, Dance, Music, and Drama.
• High School Principal’s Award begun in 1999 to select one piece of artwork by a student each year to be permanently displayed in Three Rivers High School.