Program Spotlight: Rising Stars Art Camp

Summer is here and the students at Patrick Henry School of Science and Art (PHSSA) enjoyed another week-long Rising Stars Art Camp with Arts Ignite!

In June, Arts Ignite returned to PHSSA in Richmond, VA for the third time with a one-week musical theater residency – Rising Stars Art Camp! Under this camp’s theme The Road Not Taken, 40 students in grades K-5 engaged in performing arts through Acting, Music, Visual Arts, and Dance classes while continuing to strengthen their relationship skills, self awareness, and other social emotional skills.

Program Facilitator Andrea and Arts Ignite Teaching Artists Brian, Alejandro, Isaac, and Liz, worked with a group of new and returning students as they took a deep dive into the process of musical theater, using each class to build to a final sharing of student-centered performance. Within the daily classes and rehearsals, young people enjoyed art activities designed to cultivate core skills like confidence, creativity, and collaboration. From learning about the Harlem Renaissance through dance choreography and movements to practicing improvisation in Acting class, students built on their sense of empowerment and confidence in their individual strengths through the arts provided.

“Arts Ignite is by far one of the most fulfilling programs to engage students in every facet of the arts. The students rave about what they know and want to share learned information with the world.”
– Principal Hudson, PHSSA

Like every Rising Stars Art Camp prior, June’s camp had a very special final sharing for the PHSSA and Richmond community! Check out this video from the song performed at the final sharing to see students showcase their new skills, curated performance, and favorite thematic elements of The Road Not Taken:

The Rising Stars Art Camp continues to impact the lives of young people in Richmond, VA as we will return for our fourth camp in October 2023! Your gift today supports these young artists and provides opportunities for them to tap into art in brand new ways!