The SIU Carbondale Campus had an extra 1500 visitors Wednesday and Thursday for the 30th Annual Arts Education Festival.
Students from all over southern Illinois had the opportunity to experience art in many forms.
For the last 30 years hundreds of 1st through 5th graders come to the Carbondale campus for a day of exposure to the arts.
Each class gets to visit a few of a dozen stations located all over campus.
Some learn about Ballet at Shryock.
Others are making macramé bracelets.
Some learned about jazz.
University Museum Director Dona Bachman helps organize the event.
She says about ten years ago they had to spread the festival over two days so they could fit in all the students that want to come.
“This is an opportunity for them to have a full day emerged into the arts and to see all the arts that are offered on the SIU Campus.”
Dongola grade school teacher Nikki Burrows brought her 4th grade class today.
She’s brought her class here for the last three years due to popular demand.
“They always come back to the school and talk about it and what they learned and the different things that they did and its really exciting for them because some of them never really get the opportunity to visit places like this.”
Bachman says there’s a reason some students haven’t had much exposure to the arts.
“Southern Illinois schools are desperate for money and sometimes the programs that get cut are the arts programs.
While the kids enjoy music, creating and all the hands on experience there is to offer,
One of the best parts is the out of pocket expense.
“We don’t charge for this program and mostly its just volunteers, not only from the university but also from the community.”
Over a dozen southern Illinois schools participated in this year’s event.
