Missouri Fine Arts Academy seeks student nominations

Missouri Fine Arts Academy seeks student nominations

 

            SPRINGFIELD ? Missouri’s public school districts and private high schools have a unique opportunity to support their artistically talented students by nominating them to participate in the Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA). Student nomination forms are available online for all Missouri high school districts. Nominations are due in mid-November.

            “Each district or private school is responsible for coordinating its own nomination procedure,” said Julie Bloodworth, director of Missouri Fine Arts Academy. “I encourage students, parents and teachers interested in the Missouri Fine Arts Academy to check with their superintendents or private school administrators to determine the appropriate nomination procedure for them. Of course, everyone’s welcome to follow up directly with the Missouri Fine Art Academy for more help in the nomination process.”

MFAA is a state-supported summer residential program for approximately 200 of Missouri’s artistically talented high school juniors and seniors. It is scheduled for June 8-28 2008 at Missouri State University.

            MFAA, which began in 1996, is funded by an appropriation from the Missouri State Legislature and a grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). It is co-sponsored by the Missouri State’s College of Arts and Letters.

Students chosen to attend the academy must be nominated by their home schools in the fall and are selected by a panel of artists and arts educators in December.

Students selected for the academy are artistically talented leaders devoted to learning and expressing commitment to interdisciplinary experiences. The academy is one of only two governor’s schools in the state and provides selected students an opportunity to enhance their abilities, explore the various roles the arts play in society and encounter the arts in an interdisciplinary forum.

            The formal academy curriculum is divided into two areas of study. Each morning, the students attend team-taught courses that are interdisciplinary in nature. Afternoons, students study their primary area of artistic ability: dance, music, theater or visual arts. Evenings are scheduled with entertainment, concerts, seminars, study time, recreation and performances.

For more information on nominating students for the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, contact Bloodworth at JulieBloodworth@MissouriState.edu or David Welch, director of gifted education for DESE at David.Welch@dese.mo.gov. The academy’s Web address is http://mfaa.missouristate.edu.