NAACP ACT-SO partners with UAPB
The Pine Bluff Branch of the NAACP is partnering with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff for its 2024 ACTSO (Afro-Academics, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics) Competition.
Competitions in visual arts are set for 11 a.m. today at the UAPB Fine Arts Building. Students representing Pine Bluff and Watson Chapel high schools will compete in sculpture, painting, drawing and photography, according to Stuff in The Bluff.com.
Another contest for performing arts is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 13 at Indigo Blue Coffeehouse, 212 W. Barraque St. There will be a performance in classical music – vocals.
Last fall, the NAACP entered into a partnership with the Department of Art and Design at UAPB. The university donated art supplies as well as agreed to mentor students competing in the visual arts competition. The mentoring program matches art students at UAPB with ACT-SO contestants and provides feedback to them working on their art projects for the contests.
“This partnership provides valuable support to the high school contestants and allows the college students the opportunity to be a contributor in helping these young people reach their full potential,” said Maryann Lee, chairman of the Pine Bluff ACT-SO program. “The contestants’ future endeavor is to become artists themselves and this program not only exposes them to art but also exposes them to critical thinking about their work and also builds on their strengths to be the best they can be.”
UAPB faculty, staff and students in the Department of Art and Design are involved in the Pine Bluff ACT-SO program.
“Three of our faculty members (who are) art department professors are serving as the judges for this competition (on April 6),” said Karen DeJarnette, department chair. “Prior to that during the process, some of our upper-level art majors were paired with these high school students to give them feedback on their concept, feedback on their work as they were making it, and then feedback on their presentation of the work and/or their artist statement or their prepared comments.”
The students are also assisted with their work being mounted, framed or placed on a podium that is provided by the university if a sculpture is being displayed. Giving this support plants a seed with hopes for a harvest in UAPB’s future.
DeJarnette revealed that winners who score a gold medal in the local ACT-SO competition will be recommended for a partial scholarship if they decide to enroll at UAPB as an art major.
ACT-SO is an academic achievement program founded by the NAACP to showcase and highlight the educational excellence of African American high school students. Students compete locally and the first prize winners receive invitations to compete at the national competitions.
The National NAACP Competition is scheduled in July in Las Vegas. The branch is seeking donations to help fund the costs of sending students and chaperones to Las Vegas. This is the third year that the Pine Bluff Branch has participated in ACT-SO.
Details: Maryann Lee at (870) 718-5330, Michael McCray at (870) 543-0024 or Mary Liddell at (870) 643-2383.