In 2004, the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association (CFADA) decided to make art programs at local public high schools the beneficiaries of CFADA’s fundraising. The association created a high school art competition for local students as part of its Charleston Fine Art Annual. Students participating in this competition and their schools receive gift certificates for art supplies. Since 2004, CFADA has donated over $140,000 to the schools.
This year, once again CFADA will donate funds to art programs at Charleston County high schools. The association will donate $19,000 worth of art supplies to schools in need that participated in its Eleventh Charleston Fine Art Annual in November 2009.
Each of the following schools will receive art supplies—Academic Magnet High School, Burke High School, Charleston County School of the Arts, Garrett Academy of Technology, James Island Charter High School, North Charleston High School, R.B. Stall High School, Septima P. Clark Academy, St. John High School, Wando High School and West Ashley High School.
According to the National Arts Education Initiative, arts education strengthens students problem solving and critical thinking skills, which will help them in school and their professional careers. Students involved in the arts perform better in reading, social studies and math compared to their peers.
The donation is possible thanks to the generosity of CFADA artists whose creations from the Painting in the Park where auctioned off at the Charleston Art Auction on Saturday, November 7, 2009.
For more information on CFADA, please visit www.cfada.com.
