FREE SUMMER ART KITS SPARK CREATIVITY FOR HILLCREST ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

MORGANTON, NC:

In an effort to nurture creativity and artistic expression among Hillcrest Elementary School students, TOSS and the Burke Arts Council are excited to announce the distribution of free summer art kits to Kinder - 5th graders. With a population of 266 students, the initiative aims to provide children with creative materials and inspiration through the summer months. TOSS and the Burke Arts Council will distribute the kits in May, concluding a monthly workshop series TOSS facilitated at the school.

Dr. Rumbaugh, Principal of Hillcrest Elementary emphasizes, “Our students really enjoyed our monthly visits from our TOSS friends. The instructors always had a smile on their faces and a love not only for the arts but for our staff and students. I am excited that our students will have a chance to take home some art kits with them this summer. Any time a child has a chance to have tactile tools with which to be creative, it is a definite plus toward their educational development. Thank you TOSS and Burke Arts Council for your generous student gifts!

The initiative is spearheaded by TOSS, a program of The Industrial Commons. Both TOSS and the Burke Arts Council are invested in developing the skill sets and abilities of students in our community. “TOSS reaches over 1,400 students every month through our afterschool and in-school workshops,” says Kathryn Ervin, TOSS Director. “Our mission is expose students to creative habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.”

Engagement in the arts significantly enhances academic performance, creativity, and critical thinking skills, according to research from various sources including the National Endowment for the Arts and Americans for the Arts. Students involved in arts education are more likely to excel academically and develop vital social and emotional competencies such as empathy and teamwork. Early exposure to the arts correlates with sustained engagement throughout life. Moreover, arts education contributes to closing the achievement gap, improving school attendance, and reducing disciplinary issues, as demonstrated. It opens up diverse career opportunities with “creativity” being the number one trait 72% of employers look for when hiring.

“We are incredibly grateful to all those who have contributed to this initiative,” says Deborah Jones, Director of the Burke Arts Council located in downtown Morganton, NC. “Together, we are fostering a love for the arts in these young students to unleash their creativity.”