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4-H Discovery Arts

Helping youth to . . . discover the art of life!
 Photos - 2005

4-H Discovery Arts is the umbrella under which a variety of youth arts programs are offered to 4-H members and other youth through York County Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program.  4-H Discovery Arts programs are designed to help youth to “discover the art of life”.

 

The goal of the Arts Discovery Programs is to provide youth with opportunities to:

  • Learn and experience expressive arts

  • Learn about themselves, their communities and the world around them

  • Use the arts to learn broader, valuable life skills

  • Have fun!

York County’s 4-H Discovery Arts inspire children to explore the world through creativity journaling, painting, music, and other mediums.

  

Research has shown that the arts can help youth to develop self-esteem, appreciation of the work of others, self-expression, cooperation with others, and critical thinking skills, skills vital to their success.

 

4-H Discovery Arts includes the following programs:

 

Art Saturday: discovering the art of life! –  This program is offered twice a year, and provides youth with a variety of experiential arts programs, typically offered as a 5-session Saturday series.

 

4-H Summer Arts Camp –  A weeklong arts “day camp” offered annually in August.

 

4-H Community Angels –  A program in which 4-H youth are supported in creating public art as a community service.  Some of the results can be seen adorning walls of public buildings in York County.

 

Community Colors Banners Project: discovering the art of life! – An experiential arts program open to the public at Acton Fair.  Youth and adults are invited and guided to create colorful expressive banners, which are used to educate and decorate the 4-H Exhibit Hall during the fair.

 

Art HOPE – A collaboration between York Hospital Oncology Treatment Center and Cooperative Extension, this program uses experiential arts to bring together individuals living or affected by cancer, their families and caregivers, and the broader community.  4-H teens are trained to participate in monthly Creative Gatherings  in which participants explore and create art as a form of stress reduction and well-being.  Created art is displayed in the Art HOPE “Garden of Gifts Gallery” at York Hospital’s Oncology Treatment Centers in York, Wells & South Berwick.  Art HOPE brochure

 

For more information contact Jon Prichard, Extension Educator

Email: jonp@umext.maine.edu 

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