Academic Excellence Is Often a Creative Matter

Because parents, administrators and school boards often tend to place a low priority on visual and performing arts as part of a school’s curriculum, arts classes are usually about the first thing to go in a budget crunch.

This is unfortunate, because many recent studies show that the development of artistic skills helps improve some basic academic skills. It is now widely accepted in education circles that art studies can heighten a child’s perceptual skills and help develop concentration and problem-solving abilities--all of which can improve performance in reading, math and other subjects.

There are ways parents can help improve their child’s understanding of and talent for the visual and performing arts.

You can, for example, take your child to art museums, encourage your child to view documentaries and performances on public television, or subscribe to an arts magazine.

But there is no substitute for participation. One option I can recommend is to consider enrolling children in a class at the Westside Arts Center, at the Santa Monica Pier beach level underneath the carousel (the address is 1602 The Promenade).

Now in its third year, the nonprofit arts center offers classes in the visual and performing arts for everyone age 2 through adult.

Costs of classes range from about $10 to about $150, and scholarships are available for those who need it, according to program director Sue Childs.

Children ages 2 to 4 and their parents can take such classes as “Discovering Art,” in which they can work with art materials and methods of creating art.

In the music and movement class, youngsters learn basic musical concepts and study rhythm, sound and body movement.

Four- and 5-year-olds can get a more general taste of visual art in the mixed media art class, where they learn about drawing, painting, printmaking and working with wood and clay.

Children 6 to 12 can take classes in woodworking, ceramics, drawing, painting and even cartooning and sculpture. Attendance by parents at these classes is optional; the sessions are closely supervised by the arts center staff.

The center offers a free class for parents and children two weekends a month. At the class scheduled for this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., for example, children will make valentines. Future sessions will feature shadow puppets, celebrating whales and making musical instruments. The classes are open to anyone age 2 and up.

“We want the kids to explore different materials, creative choices, and experiment with the process of making art,” Childs said.

The center employs about 40 artists to teach the classes. “One of our goals is to put kids in touch with people involved in the creative process,” Childs said. “Our teachers are all artists, and they have experience with kids.”

Twenty different classes are offered during the week, and about 15,000 children and adults are expected to participate this year.

Besides holding classes at its Santa Monica site, the center will also bring arts education to your home by presenting a birthday party for your child. For $250, you get a two-hour party for 20 children--that’s an hour of making art projects, a half-hour of drama and a half-hour of playing and eating cake. It is taught by two teachers and several assistants, which leaves parents free to watch or join in.

“The parents don’t have to work very hard. The kids are busy, and they don’t mess up the house,” Childs explained.

You can reach the Westside Arts Center at 395-1443 for information on classes, including the center’s program for spring break, April 8 to 12.