River Valley to host its annual Fine Arts Festival
There will be no tiny hands, clothes or even parts of River Valley High’s field that will be spared from the splatter of paint at an upcoming Fine Arts Festival.
The May 17 festival at River Valley will bring together roughly 2,000-3,000 elementary school students and about 250 high schoolers to lead a day’s worth of painting, twisting of pipe cleaners and constructing of thousands of newspaper hats.
Whitney Still, River Valley art teacher and an event organizer, said the festival has been a tradition in the Yuba City Unified School District for generations, starting at Yuba City High School around 1970. Ever since it opened in 2005, River Valley High School has joined in the tradition, which Still said provides a great opportunity for all participants.
“It feels awesome to see this come together,” Still said. “For little kids, it gives them a chance to make some art and gain experience with kids who may have participated in year’s past. High schoolers love to participate in this event because it is a fun way to interact with children and lead the instruction.”
Alexandra Sprowls, an instructor with the visual arts department at River Art created by children at a past Fine Arts Festival.
Valley, said the festival is an opportunity to show children that art continues to be part of curriculum.
“As art teachers, we hope the experience encourages the young ones to think about taking an art class when they get to the high school,” Sprowls said. “Some of the teenagers remember the experience from when they were in elementary school quite fondly. It is one of our favorite traditions that has
lasted generations.”
Still said the event acts as a reward for high school students, who need to meet certain academic requirements to participate.
While at the event, Sprowls said the high schoolers who take part in the event will act as the teachers and facilitators to six to seven elementary school students in the first, third and fifth grades.
The festival is closed to the public.