BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHALLENGE MADE TO PARENTS AND EDUCATION SUPPORTERS

Art League Challenges Residents to Donate on its Go Fund Me Page to Support Art Education 

Hendersonville, NC – Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of middle and high school students – you’ve been issued a challenge.  The Art League of Henderson County challenges you to support our local art teachers and students by donating to a Go Fund Me page to help buy art supplies for classrooms during the year.

Recognizing that art education is an essential part of our children’s growth and development, ALHC established an Education Fund years ago and has provided local art teachers with supplemental funds in the form of gift certificates to purchase needed art materials for many years.  “The money from the Art League makes sure I have what I need without using my own paycheck,” one teacher explained.   “I often buy things for my classroom when I see sales and good deals, and the ALHC money allows me to get more for my money than some of the state contract supplies.”

To help raise funds for 2016, the ALHC created a Go Fund Me page at www.gofundme.com/ALHC-Art-Education.  “If Henderson County parents and student relatives would all donate just a few dollars,” challenged ALHC member Sharon Eng, “it wouldn’t take long to reach or exceed our $2000 goal for this year.”

Hendersonville art teachers often find themselves digging into their own funds to buy supplies for their classrooms.  “We typically order all of our supplies for the entire year in the fall,” explained one teacher who preferred to remain anonymous, “and the budget hasn’t changed in probably a decade.    You never know whether the black paint or the white charcoal pencils will last for the whole year.  I want my two semesters of classes to have the same supplies/opportunities,” she said.

In February, ALHC provided local middle and high school art teachers with $2200 in gift certificates to purchase art supplies for the classrooms.  In addition, secondary student art winners at the Students and Mentors exhibitions received prizes provided by the Art League.

“The Art League has been supporting the art teachers in Henderson County for over 50 years,” ALHC president Sharon Carlyle said.  “Our purpose is to promote appreciation and understanding of the creative arts among the students.  With our yearly gift we hope to foster future generations of artists with supplies and opportunities that they may not get with the limited budgets our teachers work with.”

The Go Fund Me page is being promoted through the Art League of Henderson County Facebook page, as well as its web site, www.artleague.net.  Donors can also go to the direct link at www.gofundme.com/ALHC-Art-Education or to the Go Fund Me home page and input Art League of Henderson County in the search bar to access the donation site at their convenience.  The Art League hopes that with the convenience of the Go Fund Me page, the public will become involved and even start other challenges to help fund the Arts in Education Program.

Martina Zinn, one of last year’s teacher recipients and ALHC member, said, “I feel the partnership between the Art League and our schools has been really special. It means a lot to the teachers and the students to know that we have support in the community from other artists. I know the students are often surprised that adults who don’t even really know them, take an interest in what they are doing and want to help them succeed.”

The ALHC was founded in 1962 with a mission to encourage and assist in the development of individual artistic talent, as well as the enjoyment of art.  The organization honors this legacy by providing financial support to local art teachers and prize awards to student artists, as well as community outreach, and exhibitions and educational programs.  The public and artists of all skill levels and “art lovers” are encouraged to attend and participate in meetings and programs.

The Art League of Henderson County meets monthly on the second Sunday of each month (except May, when it will be the 3rd Sunday) at Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. A social hour usually begins around 1:30 p.m., with the meeting starting about 2 pm. An art-related presentation is offered following the meeting. Guests are welcome.

For more information, contact Sharon Eng, publicity, at 828-685-8959, swengbiz@gmail.com.