Celebrating Young Artists in the Kamloops-Thompson School District
In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to students developing multiliteracies (print, visual, music, digital, drama) as part of the Intellectual Development Priority to share their talents and to explore career pathways.
On April 30, 2024, we celebrated the creative young artists in our district at the Young Artists’ Conference Gallery Grand Opening Celebration at the Old Courthouse on Seymour Street.
“This year, like every year, our young artists have once again submitted some amazing pieces of artwork,” stated Fine Arts Chair Jayne Latta. “Our SD73 student artists have been very symbolic in their visual representations and it is clear that so much thought, time, and energy has gone into preparing their pieces this year. The pieces are quite powerful and tell a story of something important and meaningful to them. We’re so proud of all of our young artists for 2024.”
Student artists in Grades 4 through 7 from every school across the district, have shared their remarkable talent for drawing, painting, sculpting, weaving, and creating mixed media art that spoke to our hearts as we read small stories connected to each one. As we shared in viewing their work and talking to the young artists, the amazing part of this event was how parents, students, staff, trustees, and community partners look forward to not only coming to the event and talking with artist but also in purchasing the cards to be given away to continue to share the talent beyond this event.
When asked what it meant to have their art featured in the Young Artist Gallery, several young artists expressed feeling proud and having a goal of being one of the featured art pieces next year. As one young artist named Emma expressed: “It means a lot because I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, and this kind of is a sign. It makes me really happy that people get to see what I did… It is very important to be able to express yourself.”
Amelia, from Sun Peaks, shared, “I got ideas for this drawing by looking at pictures that I liked online and then I imagined this one.” Offering students the opportunity to explore and share who they are, what they love, and what they care about, while developing an appreciation for fine arts, is at the core of one of our main strategic priorities, Human and Social Development.
“This is an event that moves me and then continues to move us in the Board office because we get to have a selection of this art on our walls.” says Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “It speaks to the heart, everytime I see the pieces. I am affected every day in a good way by this art.”
The 37th annual Young Artist Conference continued May 1, 2024 with students attending workshops hosted by community professional artists and art educators at Thompson Rivers University. The Young Artists Gallery will remain open for the community to visit until Saturday, May 4 at the Old Courthouse, with the art then being displayed at the Board Office over the next year.
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