Youth of Butler County will have the opportunity to see their artwork hanging in a museum this month.

Feb. 4 opens the first of two student art exhibits at the Coutts Memorial Museum of Art.
The first show, running through Feb. 23, will feature the work of kindergarten through eight grade students.

“This is our 14th year,” said Terri Scott, co-director of the museum. “Every year it seems like the quality of the artwork gets better and better.”

A reception will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 9, and will be open to the public. Last year about 600 people attended the reception.

All of the schools in Butler County were invited to participate in this student art exhibit and 18 chose to enter. Each school is limited to 20 works of art, which are selected by the art instructors. Approximately 300 students will have their work on display.

“We are happy to have the involvement of the Art Room, which helps include home-schooled students,” Scott said.

Art instructors will be given a certificate and ribbon for each of their students to honor their participation in the exhibit. These are made possible in part through the funds from the El Dorado Charities Auxiliary.

This exhibit is one the public and the museum staff enjoy.

“Probably my favorite thing to see is a child come in with a parent or grandparent, and they are just absolutely beaming because they have artwork in the museum,” Scott said.

She said some of the students are those not in sports, and this is a good way to show their interest in art.

The following schools and instructors will have student work on display: Andover Meadowlark Elementary, Ginger Steck; Andover Robert Martin Elementary, Lisa Findley; Art Room (home-schooled students), Brenda Yarnall; Augusta Lincoln Elementary, Charlene Jesser; Augusta Robinson Elementary, Charlene Jesser; Benton Elementary School, Judy Haynes; Circle Middle School, Brenda Collins; El Dorado Grandview Elementary, Sherry Hermreck; El Dorado Jefferson Elementary, Sherry Hermreck; El Dorado Lincoln Elementary, Sherry Hermreck; El Dorado Skelly Elementary, Sherry Hermreck; El Dorado Washington Elementary, Sherry Hermreck; El Dorado Middle School, Gail Nuckolls; Flinthills Primary, Barbara Anderson; Flinthills Intermediate, Michal Austin; Flinthills Middle School, Michal Austin; Rose Hill Middle School, Joel Blessant; and Towanda Primary, Julie Hall.

The museum holds the art show to support the art instructors and teachers who acknowledge the value of art education.

“Why is arts education so important?” they ask.

“The arts are much more than just fun ‘extra’ activities for kids,” museum staff said. “Participation in the arts opens up children’s worlds and minds and offers them the skills they need to have a bright future. There is never enough art in our schools and in our children’s lives.”

They also feel arts education makes a difference in communities and makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help “level the learning field” across socio-economic boundaries.

Art also has proven to make a measurable impact on at-risk youth by deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance.

It also has been shown to strengthen student problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement and school success.

The following statistics were offered for young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days through at least one full year:

• four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement

• three times more likely to be elected to a class office within their school

• four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair

• three times more likely to win an award for school attendance

• four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.

The staff at the museum invites the public to attend the exhibit and show their support for the artistic talents of the Butler County students and instructors.

The museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

The museum is free and open to the public.