Art In Schools

ART IN SCHOOLS is a collaboration made possible by The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts and the Lee County Board of Education. ART IN SCHOOLS is a Fine Arts Education Program of The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, developed by Sarah West and Michele West for elementary schools. ART IN SCHOOLS | 6th Grade Art Classes debuted for Lee County Schools during the 2019-2020 school year at Smiths Station and Salem Elementary Schools: Wacoochee Elementary School, East Smiths Station Elementary School, South Smiths Station Elementary School, and West Smiths Station Elementary School.

During the program’s debut year more than 11,000 drawing studies were presented to every 6th grade student at the subscribing schools. Upon 6th grade graduation, students received art study portfolios featuring every rendering developed over the year of study. A collective student exhibition was coordinated with the Alabama Historical Commission and Alabama State Capitol (*due to the COVID-19 world health crisis, this exhibition was transferred to an online exhibit gallery for appropriate accessibility.)

In response to uncertainties presented by the pandemic, Sarah West and program co-founder, Michele West devoted the Summer of 2020 to refining the ART IN SCHOOLS program to meet the requirements of a potentially ALL- Virtual Learning School Year. Through the development of THE ART BOX for Individual Safer Distanced Learning, ART IN SCHOOLS is able to continue to fulfill the mission of the Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art to make fine art education accessible to every student.

Through collaboration with the Lee County Board of Education, THE ART BOX for ART IN SCHOOLS has been delivered to every 6th Grade Student at participating elementary schools every school year since 2019, and continues to provide students with a fine art education compatible for a changing learning environment. THE ART BOX for ART IN SCHOOLS fulfills a commitment ensuring that whether student is in a Traditional or Virtual Learning Environment, each student will receive a quality, comprehensive fine art education throughout the entire school year regardless of circumstances presented by shifts or changes that might arise.

To learn more about ART IN SCHOOLS, or to inquire about making ART IN SCHOOLS accessible for your school, your inquiries are welcome by The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art via 334-480-2008 or via email sarahwestgallery@att.net.

Every Child Must Have Access to a Fine Art Education.