March is National Youth Art Month, and Chapman Cultural Center will celebrate with an exhibit of artwork from public and independent schools throughout Spartanburg County.

The 2013 exhibit will be located in the student galleries in the Moseley Building and runs March 4 through April 14. It will be open to the public free of charge Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays 1-5 p.m. Each year, one of Spartanburg’s seven school districts takes the lead in planning the exhibit. This year’s lead district is Spartanburg County School District Six, which will host a public reception on Tuesday, March 19, 4:30-6 p.m. at the Chapman Cultural Center.

More than 280 pieces of art are displayed by the art teachers in every public school in the county, as well as several independent schools and the S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind. Drawings and paintings, as well as three-dimensional work are included, and showcase the tremendous talents of children throughout the county.

Youth Art Month began in 1961 as an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art and art education for all children, and to encourage public support for quality school art programs. Youth Art Month provides a forum for acknowledging skills that are not possible in other subjects. Art education develops self-esteem, appreciation of the work of others, self-expression, cooperation with others, and critical thinking skills. All of these skills are vital to the success of our future leaders — our children.

For more information about this exhibit or other educational programs of the Chapman Cultural Center, contact Ava Hughes at ahughes@spartanarts.org or telephone 864-278-9693.

– article submitted by Steve Wong