Summer Arts Alive
This is an award-winning intensive arts institute for high school students and educators sponsored by Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19. This program is recognized by the “Pennsylvania’s Best Practices Award” and the “Regional Governor’s School of Excellence Award”. It offers summer art programs in the performing and visual arts.
The program runs for 5 weeks during the summer Monday through Friday. Student selection criteria include technical skill, expression, strong work ethic, the desire to continually improve, a willingness to explore all offered art forms and an eagerness to work with others. Each attendee must have a recommendation by a teacher or guidance counselor.
Attendees chose either a visual arts or performing arts program. The visual arts programs include the following: Mixed Media which introduces a variety of art mediums such as collage, printmaking, and alternative process imaging; Painting which is a class run like a professional studio teaching the elements of art and design while engaging the student at all times/ and Photography which includes field work as well as the basic elements and principles of photography and camera and darkroom techniques. The Performing Arts programs include: Theatre where students learn theater warm-ups, improvisation, character creation and critical analysis; Dance which concentrates on Jazz technique; and Music which focuses on choral music combined with movement and drama.
Professionals in each of the fields instruct the different camp programs. The program culminates with a reception which includes a theatrical performance and an art exhibit designed and performed by the students.
Fifteen to twenty Abington Heights students are expected to attend the 2009 Summer Arts Alive Program.