Studies have shown students with an education rich in the arts have historically earned higher grade point averages and score higher on college entrance exams than students without such engagement. Carmi has benefitted from having relatively strong arts programs from drama and band to art, color guard and winter guard. A group of parents and community members who say they recognize those benefits have organized a Fine Arts Booster club and are looking to grow. Keith Jackson and Anna York dropped by Carmi Kiwanis on Thursday to discuss the group with hopes of recruiting some fresh faces.
Jackson went to Grayville schools and says he’s appreciated the opportunities his 2 children have had in the Carmi school system.
There’s a great drama department and the band has really improved since Grace Sinclair became the instructor and I’m really impressed with them. So a group of us got together in 2023 and formed the Carmi White County Fine Arts Boosters. We decided that a boosters group was necessary much in the same way as football or other sports boosters to raise money for the things they need. Our goal was simple…to support and enhance the band, drama, fine arts, and associated programs for our kids.
The group has already made an impact fueling students with food and drinks during practices, supporting art students entering competitions, and providing band students with new coolers and tents. Currently, the “FAB club” is raising funds for microphone equipment and updating band uniforms that are estimated to be around three decades old.
Support for the boosters can look like monetary donations, but also membership and volunteers. As York says, students with a passion for the arts often make a career out of it and they deserve the same level of support athletics get.
You know we talked about how much support our Bulldog Boosters offer our student athletes and then we started thinking about all the people that are involved in the plays, the band, our art program and how many of them are making their careers out of being a part of that. They need to be supported just as much as our athletes.
You can find a membership form below
You can also reach out to Jackson, York and others in the organization through the Fine Arts Booster facebook page.
Coming up next week at Kiwanis, just in time for Valentine’s Day, a program featuring Travis and Ashley Thompson of Farmhouse Florist.
