Selected high school, Otisville and Minisink Valley elementary student artwork to appear in Feb. 23 Orange County Arts Council’s ‘Arts Build Confidence’ exhibit at Galleria at Crystal Run

Ten Minisink Valley High School students and dozens of students representing Otisville and Minisink Valley elementary schools will be participating in the Feb. 23 Orange County Arts Council’s (OCAC) “Arts Build Confidence” student art celebration at the Galleria at Crystal Run in Middletown.

student artworkThe high school students will be part of a display of over 120 works of art from Orange County high schools. The elementary students’ works will be shown via a digital display.

High school students participating are: Melissa Faughnan, Alexandra Higgins, Madison Kipp, Isabella Balz, Casey O’Reilly, Hannah Braun, Julia Ratynski, Nicoletta Lombardo, Ryan Rodriguez and Steel Reilly.

Additionally, nine high schools will be performing selections from their upcoming spring musicals.

student artworkResearch has shown that the arts can have a significant impact on overall school culture, especially student motivation, attitudes, and attendance, according to the OCAC.   Numerous reports discuss the ways that increased access and involvement in arts education encourage students to stay in school, succeed in school, succeed in life and succeed in work.

The OCAC also reinforced that involvement in the arts helps students develop creative thinking skills (adaptability, flexibility, imagination, fluency, originality, elaboration), critical thinking skills (comparison, hypothesizing, and critiquing), problem solving and reasoning skills.

OCAC annually partners with school districts to enhance students’ experiences in the arts.

Be sure to visit the Galleria this Saturday and visit the exhibit!  Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.