Art Education and the Season of Giving

It is December 31, and as we prepare to usher in the New Year, I am taking a moment to reflect on the Season of Giving. How can we inspire a generous spirit and a philanthropic attitude among our students in the art classroom?

Teachers across Georgia successfully inspire their students to work passionately with art projects that explore the possibility of a better world through collective responsibility and imagination. At Norcross Elementary School, art teacher Lauren Phillips and her students conduct an annual Empty Bowls ice cream social with ice cream donated from Target. Proceeds are donated to a local food bank and almost $5000 has been raised to date! Debbie Katcoff of Augusta invites the entire community when she hosts a huge Empty Bowls luncheon where artists donate bowls for a silent auction, students from over a dozen schools donate bowls and area restaurants participate by bringing in their best soups and desserts. All proceeds go to feed the hungry.  Renee Gaither, GAEA NAHS Sponsor of the Year, works with her NAHS chapter at Tucker High School to instill responsibility and self-confidence in her students through service learning. For example, members work with seniors at the local nursing home by decorating and delivering ornaments. These artists also decorate pumpkins for patients of brain injuries at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital.  She has led her chapter to focus their energy on community members in need.  They participate in several other impressive projects such as Empty Bowls, Toys for Tots, and Youth Art Month.  With service learning, Renee emphasizes the impact students can make in the lives of others. At North Gwinnett High School, students have joined teacher Debi West in an ongoing effort to create “Art for a Cause”, raising thousands of dollars for Croy’s Cause: Urea Cycle Disorders (NUCDF) and Relay for Life through art auctions and art sales at public venues. 

I commend all of these teachers for their efforts to engage in philanthropy while teaching empathy and social responsibility. May we all be inspired to carry this spirit of generosity and hard work into the New Year!

Happy New Year to all! Thank you to Linda Scott for giving me the opportunity to blog for NAEA. It was a neat experience!

-Drew Brown
Art Educator
Past President, GAEA
The Georgia Art Education Association is committed to quality visual art education for all learners, provided by certified art educators. "ART FOR ALL!"