It's 'Art IS Education' Month in Alameda County!

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA – PHOTO: Pictured, from left: Anita B. Carr, Alameda County Arts Commissioner; Rachel Osajima, Alameda County Arts Commission Director; Supervisor Wilma Chan, President of the Board; Cindy Chadwick, Alameda County Librarian; Kirsten Bramstedt, Encinal High School Art Teacher; Anna Gonzalez, Alameda County Library Children’s Services Coordinator; and Violet Juno, Alameda County Arts Commission Public Art Coordinator.

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The Alameda County Board of Supervisors today recognized the month of March as Art IS Education month during National Arts Education month, and an exhibition is on display during the month on the first and fifth floors of the Alameda County Administration Building at 1221 Oak St., Oakland. .

In 2000, Art IS Education was founded by the Alameda County Office of Education and the Alameda County Arts Commission to celebrate youth arts education throughout the County. This is the seventh year that the Alameda County Library has partnered with the Alameda County Arts Commission to present free arts events to more than 146,000 community members at 12 libraries across the county.

“I am pleased to recognize this program that benefits so many youth and families during the month of March,” said Board President Wilma Chan. “This year’s theme, ‘Creative Voices,’ encourages Alameda County community members of all ages to use their artistic expression and voices for hope, positive change, and community building.”

The Alameda County Arts Commission and Alameda County Library are partnering together to present a special series of 300 free arts events for all ages including a wide range of workshops, performances, exhibitions, and storytime activities.

Workshops offer hands-on instruction for a broad range of art forms such as origami, jewelry, doll making, painting, metal embossing, 3D printing, creative writing, and podcasting. Interactive performances include poetry nights, puppetry, sing-alongs, yoga, line dance, and more.

All events are free and open to the public. More information at www.aclibrary.org.

In honor of Art IS Education, the Alameda County Arts Commission presents the Youth Art Exhibition inspired by the Art IS Education theme Creative Voices at the County Administration Building as part of the Art In Public Spaces program.

The exhibition features colorful houses made by kindergarten students from Maya Lin Elementary in Alameda, landscape acrylic paintings by high school students at Encinal High School in Alameda, and digital art posters by high school students from Oakland School for the Arts in Oakland.

ALSO IN THE AREA:

• Bacon and Beer Festival: Jack London Square, Oakland
• Free Family Fishing Day: Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda
• Bay Area International Children's Film Festival: Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland
• 166th St Patrick's Day Parade & Festival: San Francisco

--Image courtesy of Alameda County