It’s still a few weeks away, but Andrew Markoch said this year’s Arts Alive 2022 is on track to provide some wonderful entertainment – all courtesy of more than 200 students of Vance County Schools.
Markoch is director of fine arts and physical education for VCS and he said the 6th annual event is set for Saturday, April 9 at McGregor Hall and the Center for Innovation. Markoch spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk about Arts Alive and the positive effects of arts education in other areas of study.
The last in-person Arts Alive performance was in 2019; the annual show was all set for auditions in 2020 when COVID-19 shut everything down. “We had to do the safe and smart thing at that time,” Markoch recalled.
This year, artists’ creations will be displayed at McGregor Hall, musical and stage performances will take place there as well, beginning at 7 p.m. The gallery opens at 4 p.m. and that’s when tickets also will be available for purchase. Tickets are $5.
Markoch said he encourages anyone who wants to come out and enjoy visual arts or performing arts to join the VCS family on April 9. “You will not be able to not smile and enjoy yourself,” he said. “These are our kids that are doing this,” Markoch said. “They’ve put time into this artwork and the performers have worked hard for this moment on stage.”
Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us and click on the Arts Alive link to learn more.
Markoch said to expect artwork in various media – from crayons and markers to digital media 3-D formats.
He predicted between 70 and 75 stage performers and another 80-90 different student artists’ work on display in the art gallery.
Markoch said he is happy to be able to use the Center for Innovation to host the various master classes that will be available during Arts Alive – a wide variety of providers are scheduled to be on hand to conduct classes that range from introduction to band and orchestra to dance, among others. Durham-based KidzNotes will be on hand with music sessions for the youngest learners, he said.
“Pretty much name it and we have a provider providing it on that day,” Markoch said.
Whether it’s music, art or theatre, the arts helps children to develop and strengthen in other academic areas.
“The arts affects everything,” he said. Vance County school officials, as well as the school board, continue to make the arts a priority, which he greatly appreciates.
“Even throughout the pandemic, the emphasis on arts education in our county wasn’t going to suffer – because it’s good for our kids,” Markoch said.
Arts educators teach other subjects through their curriculum, and support development of social emotional character as well. “In order to create art, there has to be a discipline that goes with it – a type of focus and energy, and almost single-mindedness,” Markoch said. Those traits transfer to other areas of academic life, he said.