In March, the Milton Visual Arts Alliance (MVAA) invited all elementary students to submit their ideas for the MVAA’s ‘cupcake pARTy challenge!’ The event was created to celebrate the restoration of full-year visual arts classes for all Milton’s elementary school students starting in September 2011.
Nearly 100 children from all of Milton’s elementary schools participated in the challenge by sketching, drawing, coloring, and painting their special cupcake design on paper. The child artists took inspiration from famous artists like Vincent Van Vogh and Henri Matisse, as well as from local community events and all things kids enjoy. The children’s artwork demonstrates their creativity, talent, thoughtfulness, imagination and — most of all — their love of making art.
Seven students were recognized for their special creativity. A drawing by Ha-Yen Nyugen a student at Glover Elementary, was chosen from all the entries to appear on cupcakes, which are on sale at Cakes Bakery Café in Milton now through April 2011. The judges were impressed by Miss Nyugen’s choice of bright, happy colors and decorations as well as her writing the word ‘ART!’ on her cupcake. Proceeds from the cupcake sales will support the MVAA’s efforts to increase visual arts education in Milton Public schools. All artwork is on display at Cakes Bakery Café through April
The MVAA formed in October 2010 to lobby the Milton Public School Committee and administration to restore visual arts instruction to a full year schedule. In December it was announced that all four elementary schools will have full year visual arts classes for a total of 30 hours per year (compared to the current half year schedule of classes totaling 10.5 hours per year) starting in September 2011.
Through the ‘cupcake pARTy challenge!’, the MVAA intends to draw attention to the successful outcome of its efforts. Milton’s children will be closer to receiving art instruction during the school year on par with neighboring communities. The event also is an opportunity to publicly thank school officials, children, parents, teachers, and friends who supported the effort to convince school leadership that weekly visual arts instruction should be a fundamental component of the K-5 curriculum.