janus student art buying program
Art should reach well beyond the walls of museums and galleries. It’s meant to be accessible and appreciated by all. Through the Janus Student Art Buying Program, created in conjunction with the Cherry Creek Arts Festival education department, Janus and the Festival provide a unique opportunity to bring art and arts education into the schools and the lives of Colorado students.
The Janus Student Art Buying Program was created in conjunction with the Cherry Creek Arts Festival education department as a way to engage students in an experiential art education program. The program is based on an in-school exercise that helps students explore the many facets of art, as a personal preference, as a reflection of culture and as a business.
Last year, the Arts Festival was very excited to continue the outreach of the Janus Student Art Buying Program hosting more than 80 students at the event from 24 schools. Each participating school "elects" student representatives to come down and purchase art at the Arts Festival. One of the pieces they purchase is for the Cherry Creek Arts Festival’s Mobile Art Gallery and the other piece will become a permanent art installation at the student’s school. The Art pieces bought by students for other students to view in the Mobile Art Gallery has become a wonderful tradition and really brings our educational programs full circle.
Each participating school is invited to select three student representatives to purchase art at the Arts Festival. While there will only be three students purchasing art, one of the main goals of the Student Art Buying Program is
to create an educational experience that will engage the entire student body. To accomplish this goal, we will provide teachers with a study guide to assist them lead their students in a discussion around the type of piece(s) that
would best suit their school. This will help provide a deeper educational
experience for all of the students, as well as equip the student art buyers
with specific selection criteria.
While on site each student group will be accompanied by a Janus volunteer and/or a school representative to help them navigate the site, meet the artists, select their art and negotiate a purchase with the artist. Each student group will be asked to present their art piece(s) to a panel and public audience at the Arts Festival. This will provide an opportunity for the students to develop their public speaking and presentation skills as they describe their art- buying experience.
Comments on the program:
“The Student Art Buying Program benefited our participating students while extending to the population of the school with a permanent installation of art. All three students that participated were ecstatic about their choices and enjoyed sharing the reasons behind the purchase with the ‘on-site jury’ and with the school. Prairie Middle School is fortunate to have been a part of this program and the art will inspire future students to come.” Joe Welborn, Teacher Prairie Middle School
“The reason we chose this sculpture by Mr. Prata is because our principal is always telling us to reach for the stars and we thought this piece showed that.” Simon, Grade 6 Prairie Middle School.
“I was really impressed with the concept and the realization of your Student Art Buying Program. I was honestly surprised with maturity and determination the students have demonstrated in negotiating a deal for something they view as valuable artwork for their school collection. In my opinion, it is very important to stimulate interest for art at a very early stage of development, especially nowadays when parents often have no time for such activities. In that respect, Students Art Buying Program initiated by Cherry Creek Arts Festival is one of those innovative ideas that may have great results in the future.” Vesna Yankovich, Exhibiting Artist, Metalwork.
To learn more about Janus' good works in the community, click here.
