Starkville Area Arts Council to make art boxes available to children Saturday
Normally there would be tents with art supplies and kids working together to create masterpieces.
With social distancing that is not possible which is why the Starkville Area Arts Council came up with another idea as their executive director John W. Bateman said the art boxes will be free for children.
“We are doing what we did last summer in our after school program,” Bateman said. “We are creating art
boxes and we are going to distribute them on a first come first serve basis. We are starting at J.L King Park this Saturday.”
Art Boxes will be handed out starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. The following week the SAAC will also hand out art boxes at a park in Maben on Oct. 3.
There will be sharing of the space as Read 2 Succeed and the NAACP voter registration drive are working together to have their event at the same time and place. OCH will also be handing out toothbrushes and health info.
“We are sharing it with Read 2 Succeed,” Bateman said. “We are distributing books and they are going to distribute some other books. We are sharing with the NAACP because they are doing a big voter registration drive. That way everybody can take advantage of a group of people coming to the area at the same time.”
Since 1996 the SAAC has been active in the city of Starkville now 24 years later they are working with the youth to promote creativity and educate them through art.
Bateman believes that the impact they have on children now will make them better people regardless of their profession. He said art can have an impact on their futures.
“We firmly believe that art education has benefits that extend into any profession that a kid might grow up into,” Bateman said. “It teaches anything from creative problem solving, to self expression and how other people express themselves. No matter what the kid grows up to become. Exercising that creative muscle and thinking just makes them a stronger person and thinker and contributor to society.”
SAAC is still looking for volunteers to help with distribution in Maben on Oct. 3 with the times slots either 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Anyone interested can register to volunteer through the signup genius link on the SAAC website.
Bateman asks that those who want to volunteer sign up so they can adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The work that the SAAC does would not be possible without the sponsors they have due to the costs of art supplies. Bateman said everything they are able to accomplish is a thanks to them.
“We could not do this without our sponsors and donors,” Bateman said. “I think all of this helps show our mission to build a community through art. We really do rely upon others to help us. Without that help we wouldn’t be able to do anything.”