The 31st Artrageous Kids Art Festival will look different this year, but Dare County Arts Council is ensuring that the community will be able to experience the annual event in 2020.
After being postponed in May, Artrageous will embrace virtual learning this fall and be “Remotely Reimagined” into a two-part event, including three drive-thrus with free art kits for children to take home and a digital art show featuring visual, performing and literary arts by Dare County students.
“We believe in the very essential role that art and creativity play in education,” said Dare County Arts Council Program Director Jessica Sands. “Our hope is to inspire students to be creative, honor the dedicated art, music and theater teachers in Dare County who are teaching remotely during a pandemic, and share amazing artwork with the whole community.”
The Artrageous Art Kit Drive-Thrus will take place at Cape Hatteras Elementary School, Thurs., Oct. 15; Manteo Elementary School, Thurs., Oct. 22; and First Flight Elementary School, Sat., Oct. 24.
Parents can register their elementary school aged students to pick up a free art kit at one of the drive-thru events online at DareArts.org/artrageous. Sign up for the drive-thru location that is most convenient for you, and please note that registration is required to participate due to limited art kit availability.
Artrageous will also go virtual this fall, with Dare County Arts Council and Dare County Schools working together to create a free digital art show that showcases and celebrates work by Dare County students of all ages. The Artrageous Digital Art Show will be unveiled in November at DareArts.org.
Students can submit a photo or video of any original art of their choosing including a piece from an art class at school or from the Artrageous drive-thru art kits online at DareArts.org/artrageous to have their work featured in the Artrageous Digital Art Show. All media are welcome, including paintings, jewelry, ceramics, music, literary art, photography, graphic design, film, theatre, and dance. The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 6.
“I am so appreciative of the effort Dare County Arts Council is putting toward supporting the arts in our schools,” said First Flight High School art teacher Jenna Saunders. “Teaching remotely during a pandemic has had its hurdles, and working on a project like Artrageous: Remotely Reimagined is really encouraging. I am excited that the kids get to participate in this event, and even more excited that the community will get to see how talented our Dare County students are with the Artrageous Digital Art Show.”
Artrageous is presented by PNC. “As a longtime supporter of the Artrageous Kids Art Festival, PNC is happy that the essence of the festival can be preserved in a creatively reimagined way,” said Jim Hansen, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas. “The arts provide an important outlet for students to express themselves, which is important in any environment but particularly during challenging times.”
SAGA Realty & Construction, Sun Realty and the Outer Banks Community Foundation for sponsoring Artrageous. The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series is Dare County Arts Council’s creative partner on this special event.
Businesses interested in sponsoring Artrageous should contact Dare County Arts Council’s Executive Director Chris Sawin at DareArtsInfo@gmail.com.
This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
For more information, please visit DareArts.org/artrageous or call 252 473 5558.