Folk Arts for Kids / July 10 – August 12 2016 / Augusta Heritage Center

Folk Arts for Kids is the next generation of traditional artists! This is a program for youth between the ages of 8-12 who have completed second grade. Students explore arts and crafts through a variety of media and themes while getting a taste of the music and arts running within the week. See the program details for each week.

TUITION: Tuition paid before June 1: $225. Tuition paid after June 1: $250. You may register online beginning March 1 at https://secure.dewv.edu/augusta/

WEEK 1 / Folk Arts for Kids: Exploring Cajun Culture with Megan!
Week 1: July 10-15 / Cajun/Creole & Classic Country Week
Join Megan Brown for a week of fun Cajun culture activities. Learn how to cajun dance, cook, dye and pacque eggs, run Mardi Gras and even speak a little Louisiana French!

Megan Brown is a Louisiana native who grew up dancing and cooking with her family. She started learning to speak French and play guitar when she was 18 and currently plays with T’Monde.

WEEK 2 / Folk Arts for Kids: Rhythms of Many Cultures
Week 2: July 17-22 / Blues & Swing Week
Explore the art, music and dance of Africa, Japan, Hawaii, Native America and New Zealand. Learn songs in various languages, make masks, create instruments and learn to play traditional rhythms.

Laurie Goux is a performing artist, Adjunct Professor of Dance at D&E College and has taught at Augusta since 2010.

WEEK 3 / Folk Arts for Kids: Irish Tunes, Dances & Stories
Week 3: July 24-29 / Irish & Appalachian Folklife Week
Explore Traditional Irish culture through music, ceili dance, gaelic language, crafts and folk stories. All participants will learn a few irish tunes on the tin whistle!

Fiona Balestrieri is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and step dancer with strong roots in Irish traditional music. She teaches all ages at Charlottesville’s Blue Ridge Irish Music School

WEEK 4 / Folk Arts for Kids: Celebrating the Great State of West Virginia
Week 4: July 31-August 5 / Bluegrass Week
In this program students will celebrate what makes West Virginia unique and will spend the week drawing, painting, creating a papier mache black bear and much more!

Sarah Ferguson, a native West Virginian, has taught art in the public schools in Barbour County for over 20 years.

WEEK 5 / Folk Arts for Kids: Exploring the Arts, Augusta Style!
Week 5: August 7-12 / Old-Time, Vocal & American Vernacular Dance Week
Explore visual art and heritage crafts through painting, printing, weaving, binding, dancing, singing, molding, baking and experimenting.

Kylie Proudfoot-Payne is a landscape painter from Barbour County, WV, who enjoys teaching young artists.