CLARKSVILLE, TN − Austin Peay State University’s Department of Art + Design, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, recently hosted a field trip for third graders at Barksdale Elementary School’s Spanish Immersion Program.
Organized by Graphic Design Professor Rachel Bush, this field trip included presentations and activities related to sculpture, photography, animation, drawing, printmaking, and other artistic fields. In addition to a tour of The New Gallery, students got to explore art and design careers and mediums, even making their own sculptures and screen-printed T-shirts to take home.
“This field trip was such a fun experience … I often look back on my own field trips growing up as some of my favorite childhood memories, and I hoped to create that same lasting impression for these students,” Bush said. “Whether it sparks inspiration or nurtures a love for creativity, I hope it stays with them as they grow. I’m truly grateful to our department for coming together to make this day possible.”
Since its inception in 2018, the Spanish Immersion Program at Barksdale Elementary has offered all academic instruction in the target language of Spanish. Partnered with addalingua, the immersion program is committed to a quality dual-language program with the goals of increased academic achievement, cross-cultural intelligence, and high levels of bilingualism. This authentic communication during the school day allows students to learn a second language in a similar manner in which they learned their first language.
“Our third-grade field trip to the Art + Design department was an inspiring journey through creativity,” said Lauren Stacey, visual arts teacher at Barksdale. “From exploring the art gallery to sculpting, to capturing portraits, and learning about graphic design, our students had hands-on experiences that sparked their imagination. It was a wonderful opportunity to see art in action and celebrate the power of creative expression.”
This field trip was part of the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts’ Artists in Schools program. CECA and CMCSS are Partners in Education through the Kennedy Center, and CECA offers Arts Experiences Grants each academic year to CMCSS schools, like Barksdale Elementary Spanish Immersion.
“The CECA Artists in Schools program is a strong collaboration between CECA and CMCSS; we work hand-in-hand to provide arts experiences to our K-12 community members,” CECA Director Dr. Andrea Spofford said. “It is our goal to make these opportunities readily available and to work with our teachers to provide opportunities for their students that enrich their educational experiences.”