Arts Central announces that SELCO Community Credit Union will be the 2012-2013 Presenting Sponsor for Artists in Schools, the arts education program that brings art residencies to schools in Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, Klamath, and Lake Counties.
With a donation of $5,000, SELCO demonstrates its commitment to giving back to the communities it serves and its mission “to improve our members’ social and economic position.” According to Ashley Murray, marketing and community relations specialist at SELCO, “We fulfill this promise by consistently delivering high quality personal service and market leading financial solutions. In keeping with this mission, we dedicate resources to improve the standard of living for our members and enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve. We are so excited to partner with the Artists in Schools program to support and enrich the lives of kids in our community.”
For the last 12 years, Arts Central’s Artists in Schools program has placed trained, practicing artists in public and private school settings to share the benefits of the creative process with students in grades K-12. The program currently has 20 professional art educators, artists, dancers, musicians and actors who instruct students in the disciplines of visual arts, dance/movement, theater and music.
Cate O’Hagan, executive director at Arts Central, echoes Murray’s enthusiasm. “Art plays a critical role in a child’s education because it develops important problem-solving and fine motor skills, and gives students a way to express their creativity and individuality. Last year, Artist in Schools provided this valuable arts education to over 2400 students at 11 different schools, in 3 school districts. Thanks to SELCO’s generosity, this important, enriching program will continue to grow and thrive in the school year to come.”
About Arts Central
Arts Central, as the Regional Arts and Culture Council for Central Oregon, provides arts services to the communities, artists and arts organizations in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties. Arts Central receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission for these services. Our purpose is to inspire creativity through arts education and to advocate for integration of the arts in all aspects of community life in Central Oregon. We accomplish our purpose through two distinct initiatives: advocacy, arts education. We are able to provide arts education to our community through programs such as Art Station, VanGo, Art Academy and Artists in Schools residencies. For more information, please visit www.artscentraloregon.org or call 541-749-2291.
