Published: July 04, 2009 06:17 pm      

Arts Council announces fall school programs

By Leah Dill Blackard

Special to the Daily Sun



With school starting in just a few months the Navarro Council of the Arts is gearing up for another year of presenting an exciting season of the arts to all the schools in Navarro County.

For the past 30 years the arts council has presented high-quality, unique seasons to all the schools in Navarro County. Every school child, Pre K – 12th grade, will have the opportunity to experience two arts programs during the school year which will expose children to the wonderful world of the arts.

This season the arts council is presenting favorites along with some new and different arts programs that will enlighten the lives of the children of the county.

The season will kick off in November with The Singing Zoologist, Lucas Miller. With a degree in zoology and an outrageous sense of humor, Lucas Miller celebrates nature with interactive songs, stories and puppetry.

Named “Best New Artist for Older Children” in the Children’s Music Web Awards, Lucas is one of Texas’ premier performers for schools, libraries and festivals. He is a published author and his CD, “The Anaconda La Bamba,” won a Parents’ choice award.

This Singing Zoologist will travel from school to school around our county teaching our Pre K’s through 4th graders to sing “The Anaconda La Bamba.”

The second art in education program is the nationally re-known group, Ball In The House. You might recognize Ball In the House from the National Cool Whip jingle or from the NBC Today Show’s top pick for America’s Got Talent. This all acoustic vocal group is coming back after gracing our stage seven years ago. They will perform their dynamic program for all 5th – 12th graders in our county in December.

Pre K – 2nd graders in our county will have an opportunity to escape into the world of stories with The Storybook Theatre of Texas. This top-rated performance group will be making a stop at all the schools in Navarro County and presenting their blend of creativity and expression through traditional stories. This residency will take place February 2010.

In March of 2010, we will focus on Math and Science as all Texas public school children are gearing up for TAKS season. Texas favorite KidProv will be returning to focus their improvisational comedy performance on TAKS testing. This group is known for making testing fun, so we are anxiously awaiting their creativity for both the teachers and students.

Finishing out the season is Richard Hight and Visual Mpact. Hight is an artist and speaker who creates works of art while talking to students about current events. This performance/visual arts experience is something completely different that our students have never seen. Students throw current topics out and discuss them while encouraging Richard to paint what they imagine — all while listening to music. The Art of Inspiration will be a hit among all 6th-12th graders in Navarro County.

These programs give each child a chance to experience something different and spark their interesting in the important world of the arts. Thanks to generous donors, our students in this county are exposed to quality arts, while increasing test scores and sparking their creativity. These programs are brought to the students of Navarro County by the J. Tom Eady Charitable Trust, Rena Fleming Foundation, J.N. and Macie Edens Foundation, The Annie Lee Robbins Charitable Trust, Katherine C. Carmody Trust, Perry D. Graham Charitable Trust, The EM Sheppard Foundation, Mid America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and many generous donors.

For more information on these programs, please contact the Navarro Council of the Arts at (903) 872-5411 or visit our Web site at www.navarrocouncilofthearts.com.

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Leah Blackard is executive director of the Navarro Council of the Arts. She may be reached by e-mail at ncart@sbcglobal.net. Want to “Soundoff” on this story? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com