Creating A Fine Arts Festival by Sarah Eppes | HOMESCHOOLING TODAY Magazine

Once a year, when flowers bloom and the trees shoot forth their tiny leaves, our homeschool group gathers together for a Fine Arts Festival—a special celebration of our Creator and the creativity with which He has gifted our students in the arts. The festival was started years ago by one industrious mother whose loving investment of time has become one of our group’s highlights for the year. That visionary mother is no longer with us, but the festival continues and has been expanded year after year. Once small, we now average 100 families a year. We hold the Fine Arts Festival on one evening, but it takes more time than that to prepare for this special event. Nevertheless, we have found that it is worth the effort.

Creativity

Genesis 1:26 explains that God made man in His own image. On the ministry website for L’Abri (http://www.labri.com/), Francis Schaeffer is quoted as saying that, “Art is a reflection of God's creativity, an evidence that we are made in the image of God.” At the Fine Arts Festival, our students use a diverse assortment of their God-given talents to create an incredible array of masterful art works and to show God’s creativity in their lives. We consider all people artists, as we are all created in God's image.

The festival is not a judged competition. It is simply a display of the wonderful visual and performance creations of our students. On our correspondence about the festival and on our welcome sign at the door we place the following anonymous quote, "What you are is God's gift to you . . . what you DO with what you are is your gift to God!"

Visual Arts

In the Visual Arts category, students of all ages create sketches, paintings, mosaics, and collages. They create three-dimensional art such as clay vessels, textile art, and sculpture. They display photographs and poems that are matted and hung. There is a broad range of art, created by multiple ages with varied skill levels. All of the art is displayed in a gallery assembled by willing volunteers.

Some of our students submit art that was created at home at the kitchen table or that they drew on a nature walk. Other art comes from co-op art groups or professionally-taught art classes. Occasionally we have several pieces from the same art class, and we enjoy grouping these works together. Many of our high school students attend a summer art camp at Bob Jones University. They consistently return from camp with incredible drawings and paintings that are a treat to see. All these submissions are displayed in a gallery the evening of the festival.

Performing Arts

As soon as the gallery viewing and reception are complete, families move into the auditorium for the performing arts. We distribute programs listing performers and their pieces. Students sit in quiet anticipation to see the performances. Since all ages attend, this is an excellent time for students to see how others progress and improve in their performance pieces. Young children are often nervous about performing but find the warm reception from the audience encouraging. After students perform, they are able to watch and appreciate other performers.

Students sing solos or participate in group ensembles. We have multiple instrumental pieces, from the ever-popular piano to the guitar, flute, saxophone, and stringed instruments. To the delight of the attendees, we have had a variety of poetry recitations, had a film presentation, and seen original skits from Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables.

Organizing Your Own Fine Arts Festival

We allow students to participate in one or both categories. Pre-registration is necessary. When the festival first began, we charged a small registration fee. However, with the growth of our group, we have been able to eliminate fees and provide funding so all can participate without charge. A local church allows us to use their facilities free of charge. We hold the gallery and reception in the fellowship hall and the performing arts recital in the sanctuary.

The Gallery

Deadline for registration of artwork is one week prior to the event to allow time to produce information cards for each entry. The gallery looks more professional with uniform labeling. If you require entrants to e-mail their registration information, it is simple to cut and paste the information into a computer program for uniformity of fonts on each card.

For Visual Arts, students should register by submitting the following: name and age of the student, title of piece, and medium. Students may submit from three to five pieces of art, depending upon the size of the group participating. We make allowances for artwork that is part of a series, allowing the number to exceed the limit if necessary.

Artwork media can vary, from crayon, magic markers, pen and ink, or pencil; to watercolor, acrylic, or oil; to clay, photography (photos should be enlarged and not standard photo size), sculpture from mixed media, and poetry. Available space and a focus on the traditional arts caused us to decide not to include items that involve toys that children created, even if they are original creations.

All visual art is brought to the gallery the day prior to the festival. A small window of time for accepting the art is important to keep you from waiting all day for everyone to arrive. Only art that is mounted (on poster board, matted, or framed and ready to be hung) is accepted. All art must be clearly labeled on the back of the piece or with a card placed under a free-standing piece containing the same information submitted with registration. This double labeling helps ensure that no art is mislabeled or lost.

Assembling the Gallery

After the entries arrive, we assemble them. Moms, dads, and older students work together to set up the gallery. Older students have been some of our most diligent workers— making signs, labeling and hanging art, and setting up tables and chairs. Creativity and flexibility are the keys to setting up the gallery. Since all ages contribute, care is taken to place art by older students in places that are respectful of their age and ability. While we do not have an age-segregated gallery, we do attempt to treat all art equally.

Every effort is made to accentuate the pieces. Matted pieces are hung on walls and on folding wooden screens made by a carpenter in our homeschool group. Tools that are important to have are clear plastic tacks, velcro disks (for art hung on carpet covered walls), finishing nails, hammers, duct tape, masking tape, a glue gun, and label cards for each piece. We place several “Please Do Not Touch” signs about the room. Additionally, the entrance door has an easel and poster to welcome visitors and provide a schedule.

For art that cannot be hung, we have rows of tables neatly spread with white tablecloths and draped with simple, colorful, fabric. We use stools, books, pots, pans, and other items to create different elevations for the art on the tables. Then we drape the created risers with fabric to conceal them. We are blessed to be near several textile mills that have donated large bolts of fabric to us. Be sure to give credit to any donors of materials or time in a program or on signs placed around the room.

Often we must be creative with arranging art. One year when we had many pieces of three-dimensional art, we took large stepladders, draped them with cloth to conceal them, and placed similar items on the camouflaged rungs. This was a wonderful, tall addition to the gallery. We also use green potted plants to hide flaws in the room and to add texture for the eye. We try to keep the gallery simple so the focus is on the art.

As we create the gallery, we have a hilarious time together! We talk endlessly and usually order pizza and gourmet coffee. Although the work can be tiring, when it is complete, we are very satisfied to see a room that will delight students and parents. We take pictures of the gallery to remember ideas for set-up from year to year. Pictures are also nice on the night of the event, so bring your cameras.

Refreshments

On one side of the gallery we set up chairs for older guests. We have several tables for refreshments. Years ago, we served simple refreshments, but now we serve heavier food. Each participating family is asked to bring hors d’oeuvres to share. One mom has the task of arranging a bountiful centerpiece of flowers and setting out the food.

We have some spectacular cooks that bring delectable dips, vegetable trays, meatballs, and more. Some moms make cute peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cookies, brownies, or small pizzas. We appreciate all goodies. Our group provides punch, and young ladies serve it.

Remember plenty of napkins, small plates, ice, pitchers of water, and clear plastic punch cups. Some might choose to use a permanent marker to mark punch cups for children. Other helpful items are aprons for kitchen staff, large trash bags, paper towels, soap, and dishcloths.

The Performances

For Performing Arts, students must submit name and age, type of performance, title, and approximate length of performance. We allow five minutes total time for each performance with exceptions made for long pieces or dramas. Although we have never found it necessary to set guidelines for types of performances allowed, it would be good to consider whether performance guidelines are necessary for your particular homeschool group.

We discovered the need for rehearsal because many students aren’t experienced in public performance. Consequently, performing artists must attend a mandatory rehearsal one week prior to the festival. At this rehearsal, students can see the location, can practice, and can receive pointers about their performance. They have one week to improve if they need more practice.

When you book your location, you should find out details about the sound system and microphones. Our location has a certification process for using the sound system. A priority is ensuring we hold the festival on a date when the sound people are available to work the system.

The Night of the Festival

Dress at the festival should be Sunday church clothes. This increased formality helps provide a respectful atmosphere for all involved. The gallery time for viewing art lasts an hour, with many families arriving early to drop off their food. Before enjoying our refreshments, we open with a welcome and prayer over the event and food. Attendees enjoy dining and viewing at the same time.

Ten minutes prior to the recital, everyone migrates to the sanctuary. We give reminders to visit the restroom prior to the performances. We arrange performers together in a front portion of the sanctuary in the order in which they will perform. After they perform, they are welcome to join their family to view the other performances.

The performances last approximately an hour to two hours depending upon the number of performers. We encourage students and parents to remain in the sanctuary while other students are performing, however, sometimes disruptive little ones must be taken out. We occasionally have a volunteer to watch young children in a nearby nursery room. When the performances are complete, we offer thanks to all who participated in any way.

Although it can be late when the festivities are over, we ask everyone to help with clean up and break down of the gallery. We ask that everyone take down their own art, retrieve their reception dishes, and help clean up the facility.

Suggested Deadlines and Timeframes

• Gather team to plan festival. Pray and get approval from homeschool group, if necessary.
• Begin to-do lists.
• Decide on location and book it. Reserve location one week prior to event for rehearsal practice and for one day prior for set-up.
• Publicize your event several times throughout the year in your newsletter. Good communication is key! Publicize in local newspapers if that source is available.
• One month prior to event—publish full details of event in newsletter, including registration deadlines and dates.
• Two weeks prior to festival— Performing Arts registrations are due and rehearsal times scheduled.
• One week prior to festival—hold rehearsal at performance location.
• One week prior to festival— Visual Art registrations are due. Participants’ names are assembled and given to the program designer. The program is assembled and printed. Include thanks to performers, parents, volunteers, and any donors.
• Day prior to festival—art for gallery due. For moms who receive the art, take healthy snacks and quiet activities for children while waiting for submissions. Look over facility, noting what to bring from home for the gallery.
• Evening prior to festival—plan an easy meal for family members who stay at home. Gather with friends to assemble the gallery. Take pictures!
• Day of festival—make food for reception. Take food and last minute supplies to the gallery.
• One hour (at least) prior to gallery opening—arrive at least this early for last minute problems. We usually have to re-hang art that has fallen. Gather together with your team to pray for evening (that all details will be taken care of, that God will be glorified, and for everyone, especially organizers, to have calm nerves).
• One-half hour prior to gallery opening—food accepted at kitchen.
• Gallery opens
• Fifteen minutes after opening— give welcome, prayer, gallery viewing and food reception.
• Ten minutes prior to Performing Arts—issue reminders to use bathroom and get water before program commences.
• Program starts
• Conclusion of Performing Arts— take down art, clean up, and go home!

Encouragement

On the night of the festival, it is priceless to see students enter the art gallery. There are always young children, running in gaily, searching for their art and grabbing their parents or siblings by the hand to show them the display. Usually, they have a photo made of themselves next to their hanging artwork. Their smiles make setting up the art gallery worth all of the time and effort that it takes.

It is also a joy to see the enthusiasm of a student after a performance well done. Even mistakes are applauded as great efforts. When we focus on the Giver of all good gifts and talents, it is a lovely way to appreciate and enjoy each student without a competitive spirit. This appreciation is what keeps our group holding the Fine Arts Festival year after year. Nothing can replace the pleasure that a child takes in his or her own creations as each child’s creativity reflects the Creator!