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Board highlights county arts winners and expands after-school museum mentorships
Summary
The board recognized multiple student art winners and heard updates on county arts programs including the Rising Stars exhibit and the Artist Innovation Mentorship (AIM), a free after-school program run in partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Art that provides transportation, materials and exhibition opportunities for middle-school artists.
The Columbus County Board of Education recognized dozens of student winners in county and state art contests and heard updates on arts programming that county leaders say extend classroom learning and give students public exposure.
Administrators and teachers singled out students whose work appeared at the Cameron Art Museum's Rising Stars exhibition and other contests. September Krueger, curator of education and public programs at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, said Rising Stars brings high-school student work into a public gallery for a month and offers students chances to meet artists and peers from other counties.
Kelly Jones, the district arts lead, described a community partnership in which West Columbus High students produced ceramic medals for the county-run Fatmucket 5K and noted that exhibition and production opportunities have generated local media attention and community reception events.
The board also heard a multi-school update on the Artist Innovation Mentorship (AIM), an after-school partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Art that pairs professional teaching artists with middle-school students for free, multi-week sessions. Allison Ellis and Princess Grantham described AIM sessions that are fully funded by the museum, provide transportation and artist fees, and culminate in local and statewide exhibitions. A student presenter, Philip Aog, described how the after-school classes improved his drawing and patience.
Why it matters: Board members said arts partnerships broaden student learning, boost confidence and create community connections that benefit students and local cultural organizations. Teachers emphasized that programs like Rising Stars and AIM put student work in professional venues and introduce students to creative careers.
Next steps: Administrators noted upcoming exhibition dates and encouraged board members to attend Celebrate the Arts on March 21 and the local museum displays; no formal board action was required for the recognitions and program reports.
