County 4-H Programs and UW-Stout Team Up to Provide Art Education

Youth in grades 5K-12 are invited to participate in the fourth annual Art-U art education program. Grades 5K-6 will attend virtual sessions, while Grades 7 and up are invited to participate on the UW-Stout Campus. This program is put on in cooperation with Dunn, Eau Claire, and Chippewa County 4-H, UW-Stout art education students, and Arts Integration Menomonie (AIM). Everyone is welcome to attend. Youth do not need to be in 4-H to participate.

The virtual nature of the 5K-6 program has been well received with the participants and their families. A parent of a participant last year stated, “I have very much appreciated the ability for my kids to participate from home. This option works great for busy schedules and I don't know that we'd be able to participate otherwise.” Other families have appreciated the virtual program because it is easier to fit into their schedules and allows youth who may not feel comfortable in-person to participate.

Youth in grades seven and up will learn in-person on the UW-Stout Campus. This gives the older youth an opportunity to experience a college campus, and insight as to what it is like to be an art student. These experiences are vital as the youth begin to decide what they will do after high school.

When asked about the program, UW-Stout art professor Ann Carlisle said, “I believe that these types of collaborations increase awareness of the visual arts, assist children and their families to have fun, while learning about and continuing to appreciate the visual arts and help our pre-service art educators to become more confident and competent in teaching. They also bring people together in community to create and enjoy the visual arts collaboratively, even during times of isolation.”

The program is offered on Monday nights for five weeks starting on January 29th. There will be an in-person art show on March 4th. The cost is $5 for 4-H members, and $10 for any other youth. All of the supplies needed for the projects will be available to be picked up from your county extension office on the week of January 22.

Registration closes on January 3. The sign-up form can be found on the Dunn County 4-H website under “4-H Resources.” If you have any questions, please reach out to the Dunn County Extension Office at 715-232-1636, or zachary.rozmiarek@wisc.edu.