Community Outreach
Since the inception of our Community Outreach program in 2013, JRAL has focused on working with Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and its art programs, which allows us to foster the creative artistic expression of local students. Beginning with George Wythe High School (GWHS) and later expanding our focus to be city-wide in conjunction with RPS Fine Arts, we have sponsored art demos, art supply drives, student art awards, and teacher appreciation recognition.
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In our early Community Outreach mentoring program with George Wythe, JRAL members partnered with GWHS teachers to provide support for students in their visual arts programs. This included gathering and donating art supplies, art demos by JRAL members, and a joint art exhibit at First Unitarian Universalist Church. To cap off the mentoring program in 2016, JRAL presented an Outstanding Art Student Award to a deserving senior.
At left: 2016 GWHS Student Art Exhibit and presentation of Outstanding Art Student award
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Artists love sharing art supplies and knowledge, and to that end, JRAL members have enthusiastically participated in supply drives to supplement students' art materials and have presented demos on techniques and use of those materials.
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        Holiday supply drives and delivery to RPS by the truckload!
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Currently, JRAL's Outreach program is focused on student and teacher recognition based on the art featured each academic month at the RPS Gallery at Art Works. Our member volunteers select a student artist from each school to receive an award and art supplies, while their teachers receive an Amazon gift card. Both students and teachers receive hand written notes of praise and encouragement. This program has grown from highlighting one student each month at the JRAL Gallery at Crossroads Art Center to highlighting multiple students and their teachers every month at the Art Works RPS Gallery.
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"Dear James River Art League,
Thank you so much for recognizing my student Thomas Carroll at the recent RPS art show at Art Works. His family came to see his art with the ribbon that you all awarded him. Julz and Christie Jo gave him the gift bag of art supplies and I took a picture of him with our principal, Mrs. Ivy. Oh, and thank you, too, for the gift card for me. It is vital for students to see their artwork displayed in public realms and to gain encouragement to keep creating! Thank you for making the moment special for him. Oh, and we just loved your comments about his work. Peace & Art, Sharon" |
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JRAL has also been invited to judge elementary student art at the annual Spring RPS Art Fair for several years. This event is always a favorite of our member volunteers for the inspiration and fun gained from seeing the talent and creativity displayed by our youngest local artists. Award recipients receive a ribbon and gift from JRAL of art supplies. |
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