For over 20 years, volunteers from Pend Oreille Arts Council and Community Assistance League have perfected a program that brings hands-on art education into our local elementary schools. This program, called Kaleidoscope, enhances imagination and creativity.

That creativity will be on display at the POAC Gallery on the Cedar Street Bridge from now until May 4. An artists’ reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 20 and everyone is invited to come see the outcomes of these inventive classes.

“This diverse exhibit gives the public a chance to view the accomplishments of our volunteers and their students,” POAC visual arts coordinator Emily Bond said. “This year’s exhibit will feature artwork from Hope, Kootenai, Northside, Sagle and Washington elementary schools as well as the LPOSD Homeschool Academy.”

Art education is much more than a fun activity. Children who take art lessons tend to be better students. They are better at hand-eye coordination, achieve higher scores in math and develop better problem solving skills than those who do not get the opportunity to participate. It’s for these reasons that CAL and POAC bring this program into the schools which lack in-school art classes.

“This reception will be a great opportunity to meet and talk with these students and their teachers,” Bond said.

Funding for this program is provided by grants from the Idaho Community Foundation, Inland Northwest Community Foundation, Idaho Commission on the Arts and from the generosity of local business and individual donors. For more information about Kaleidoscope or other programs and volunteer opportunities go to www.artinsandpoint.org or call the POAC office at 208-263-6139.