BRATTLEBORO — At a public forum on Arts in the Schools, held on May 4 at the Academy School, a broad cross-section of Brattleboro residents spoke eloquently about the importance of the arts in education, in community, and in the maintenance of a healthy society.
As the No Child Left Behind Act puts increasing pressure on schools to focus on the subjects tested on a massive scale - math and literacy - the Brattleboro School Board and members of the community, ranging from students, to teachers, to parents, to community organizers, and to well-known artists and performers, reaffirmed a commitment to keeping the arts strong in the curriculum during the school day so that all students might have access.
One member of the audience, a teacher for 26 years, spoke of the centrality of the arts to our democracy and our national interest, referring to President John F. Kennedy's well-known statement: “I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”
President Kennedy's words also remind us that “[t]he problems of the real world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by obvious realities. We need men and women who can dream of things that never were.”
Brattleboro is a town rich with opportunities to experience and study the arts outside of the public schools, and our own River Gallery School of Art embodies this idea of setting the artist free to follow his or her vision.
As one 9-year-old student put it, “It's different from art class at school, because you always start with your own idea, and then you can learn to use any material to make what you have imagined.”
But in this economy, access for all has become increasingly difficult to ensure.
As outside scholarships have dried up, the River Gallery School of Art struggles to increase its efforts to raise adequate scholarship funds so that people of all ages, without the means to pay full tuition, might have access to its offerings.
Particularly in times of social and economic uncertainty, we need art to nourish creativity and flexibility. Whether in response to national and global events and mood, or to the unexpected changes that can affect an individual family, like job loss or divorce, art-making can be a balm.
As a single parent of two children receiving scholarships to take an afternoon studio class said, “I see my girls' River Gallery School experience as essential. Not only is this a time when the world needs art more than ever to maintain civility, creative and critical thinking, political and personal expression, and simple appreciation of beauty, RGS teaches art in a way that nurtures and challenges my kids' minds, hands and hearts.
“Their weekly studio time both grounds them and inspires them at a time in their lives when they have had to adapt to some very difficult changes,” she continued. “It remains a wonderful anchor for them, and we are all extremely grateful to have this resource available in our community.”
As RGS explores new ways to raise scholarship money in these difficult times, the Annual Benefit Auction remains its largest and most important fundraiser, and provides a way for the greater Brattleboro community to do its part while having a great time.
Held at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, this year's event will take place on Saturday, May 28, with a silent auction beginning at 5 p.m. and a live auction at 7:30 p.m.
The evening will feature an impressive array of donations to bid on, including original works of art, goods and services from local businesses, and one-of-a-kind experiences, such as an African safari, a dinner cooked and served by the RGS board of trustees (accompanied by a live string trio), juggling lessons, and high tea served at the former farm of RGS co-founder Ric Campman. The auction is an event not to be missed. Admission is $20. For further information, call 802-257-1577 or visit rivergalleryschool.org.