The red carpet will roll out Nov. 13 at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre.
In partnership with the North Bay Regional Center, the Solano County Office of Education hosts Inclusion Films, founded by Joey Travolta, by which aspiring filmmakers dive into the world of moviemaking.
Over the course of an intense two-week session, campers dream up scripts, step into the spotlight and bring their vision to life using movie equipment and expert guidance.
By Richard Bammer
A proposed spending plan for arts and music funding, appointments to the School Attendance Review Board, a six-figure contract with an area meat company, and the sale of certificates to refinance lease payments are on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders meet Thursday.
Ali Eeds, director of secondary education, will ask the governing board members to approve the district’s schools and dependent charter schools’ proposed spending plan for the 2025-26 for the Arts and Music Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act funds.
Source: Spending plan for arts and music, and a meat contract on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter
By Zach Haber
The Vallejo City Unified School District has expanded its visual and performing arts programing for the second year in a row thanks to receiving several million dollars in state funding from a 2022 state proposition.
The new funding means almost all district students can now take more art classes taught by credentialed art teachers.
Source: State funds allow Vallejo schools to expand arts programming
The fifth annual Solano Student Art Showcase is set for Saturday in McCormack Hall at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo.
More than 300 students are participating in the event, which will open at 10 a.m. The fairgrounds are located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive.
“The goal of the Solano Student Art Showcase is to recognize young artists and to promote mental health and wellness, in addition to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention through art,” the Solano County Office of Education said in a statement.
Source: Student Art Showcase is Saturday at county fairgrounds | News | dailyrepublic.com
Seconds after it started, Solano College Theatre’s latest production, “Head Over Heels,” made me smile as it immediately reminded me of a movie I love, “A Knight’s Tale.”
That 2001 Heath Ledger vehicle featured the juxtaposition of a 14th century setting with 1970s-era rock music.
“Head Over Heels” marries an adaptation of a story called “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia” written in the 80s (the 1580s) with music from New Wave band The Go-Go’s from the 80s (the 1980s). It opened at the Oregon Shakespeare festival in 2015 and on Broadway three years later.
Source: Go-Go to see SCT’s “Head Over Heels” | Diversions | dailyrepublic.com
By Janis Mara
They clapped, they stomped, they slapped and they spoke Thursday night — all in the name of empowerment, self-expression and Black history.
A cast of about 45 people, mostly youth, took the stage in “When the Mirror Shifts,” a play incorporating step team performances, in the 11th annual African-American Parent Network’s Black History Month event at Vallejo High School.
Step teams are common in high schools throughout the country, using a style of dance incorporating hand claps, body slaps, stomps and sometimes spoken word. Based in traditional African dance, the form is used brilliantly in the play as a cathartic experience and a political statement.
Source: Stepping into Black history: Play celebrates Black History Month – Times Herald Online
By Saija Maki-Waller
Since 2001, BITE has been a fixture of the Benicia High School theater community. Nearly 25 years later, students prepare for their next upcoming performance.
Led by coach Nikki Tillotson-Clark, the 22 student comedians with the Benicia Improvisational Theater Ensemble (BITE) are getting ready for its upcoming performance.
Of course, improv is difficult to plan for, often taking suggestions or ideas fresh from audience members the night of the performance. But the tight-nit group of young comedians have worked hard to hone their craft, says Jennifer Sundberg, president of the Theater Arts Boosters for Benicia Schools (TABBS).
Source: High School Improv team BITE ‘takes comedy seriously’ in Benicia – The Vacaville Reporter
Students at Grange Middle School will be exploring “a wide range of artistic mediums while tapping into their personal and cultural experiences” through a new art program started this year.
Teacher Jeannine La Bate leads the program designed to have the students engage in hands-on activities such as drawing, painting, sewing, sculpture, printmaking and photography.
“Students will use personal and cultural experiences as subject matter to make works of art to be displayed in the art room and school exhibitions for everyone to admire,” La Bate said in a statement released by the district.
Source: Art program encourages Grange students to think, be creative | News | dailyrepublic.com
By Lynzie Lowe
Fighting Back Partnership has extended the deadline for its annual youth Art Calendar Contest through June 17.
“We wanted to extend it a couple more weeks since students will have more time during their summer break,” said Vinessa Huinac, a Family Navigator at Fighting Back Partnership.
The contest has showcased art created by youth in Vallejo for more than 30 years, raising awareness about various themes that directly impact the community, according to Dr. Melvinia Turner King, Executive Director of Fighting Back Partnership.
Source: FBP’s youth Art Calendar Contest deadline extended through June 17 – Times Herald Online
By Lynzie Lowe
Friday is the last day for Vallejo youth ages 4-18 to enter Fighting Back Partnership’s annual Art Calendar Contest and have the opportunity to be featured in the Vallejo City Unified School District calendar the 2024-25 school year.
Dr. Melvinia Turner King, Executive Director of Fighting Back Partnership, says the contest, which has been taking place for more than 30 years, started as a way to engage young people by providing them with a creative outlet to share their views on community issues.
Source: Youth art sough for FBP’s annual Art Calendar Contest – Times Herald Online
By Thomas Gase
Solano County has long been known for its emerse talent with the arts. Judging by Saturday’s showcase at the Solano County Fairgrounds, that won’t be ending anytime soon.
The 4th Annual Solano Student Art Showcase, hosted by the Solano County Office of Education at McCormack Hall, included over 400 pieces of art by over 375 different artists ranging from the fourth grade to seniors in high school. This year, there were three components — a performing arts exhibition, a displayed art exhibit and a community health fair.
The Solano Student Art Showcase community health fair featured 15 local agencies offering interactive booths with services and resources. There was also a few tables with activities, including students creating their own masks.
Source: Young artists showcased at Solano County Fairgrounds – Times Herald Online
A Napa County artist has been selected as the 4th District winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.
Taylor Webster was the district winner for her charcoal pencil piece, “Forlorn.”
Lilly Bertlin was the Solano County finalist.
Source: Napa County high schooler wins 4th District Congressional art contest | News | dailyrepublic.com
Solano County students of all ages are invited to participate in the fourth annual Solano Student Art Showcase.
The showcase, hosted by the Solano County Office of Education, has room for singers, songwriters, poets, jugglers, comedians, magicians, musicians, dancers, dance troops, cheer teams and others.
The event is free for all performers, artists and attendees.
“The annual art showcase recognizes and supports youth resiliency through the arts, providing a space for young artists to express themselves. The event also promotes mental health, wellness and prevention of alcohol, tobacco and drug use,” SCOE said in a statement.
Source: Artists, performers wanted for Student Art Showcase | News | dailyrepublic.com
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office is calling on junior high and high school students to create videos for Kindness Campaign 2024.
This is the sixth year for the video contest “showcasing the power of kindness on campus,” the DA’s Office said.
The district attorney “invites students to submit a video between 30 seconds and two minutes in length that expresses what the power of kindness can accomplish in their school community. It asks the question, ‘How can the power of kindness be used in our schools, homes, and communities to make a positive difference?'”
Source: Students wanted for annual Kindness Video Contest | News | dailyrepublic.com
The Fairfield-Suisun Visual Arts Association will host its fourth annual children’s art show beginning Wednesday in conjunction with the Solano Town Center and the Fairfield Solano County Library.
A collection of artwork made by children in the Fairfield-Suisun City Unified School District will be displayed in the second-floor gallery of the Solano Town Center until March 2. After the first portion of the show, select pieces will be moved to the Fairfield-Solano County Library, at 1150 Kentucky Street, where they will remain on display until April 1 in the children’s section.
The Solano Town Gallery is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The gallery hosts other exhibitions of local art throughout the year.
Source: FSVAA to host children’s art show – The Vacaville Reporter
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond joined fellow proponents of Proposition 28, passed by voters in 2022, to launch the Promise of Proposition 28 in Los Angeles on May 22, 2023. Proposition 28 provides nearly $1 billion annually in funding for arts and music throughout California schools so students in all grades can participate in arts and music programs. Superintendent Thurmond joined initiative proponents including former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner, artists Aloe Blacc and Will.i.am, the California Teachers Association, and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 99 as well as philanthropists, school administrators, current arts and music educators, education union representatives, and aspiring arts educators at the Music Center in L.A. to discuss how the $933 million in funding will be rolled out this fall for the 2023–24 school year.
“California voters overwhelmingly voted to support this nation-leading investment—the largest investment in arts and music education in the country,” Superintendent Thurmond, an early proponent of Proposition 28, said. “The arts are a necessary part of a well-rounded education. We know the arts help kids connect with school and have a positive impact on student attendance and school climate. With these funds, we are providing every student with a creative outlet.”
Source: SPI Announces Implementation of Proposition 28 – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)
By Jordan Baker
Ceramic cakes, skeletons drawings, and oil paintings were only a fraction of the creativity displayed Saturday at the Solano County Student Art Fair.
A diverse collection of artwork — some 500 pieces of it — featured displays of computer art, clay pottery, clay sculpture, drawing, fiber, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and general sculpture.
The fair was also a competition. In addition to “Best of Show” and winners for first place through third, each student received certificates of participation.
Source: Solano students show creativity in artwork at Solano County Student Art Fair – Times-Herald
Solano College Theatre will open its next production, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” April 7.
On the main stage, the show is a jukebox musical adapted from the eponymous Oscar-winning film of 1994. It tells the story of two drag queens and a transgender woman who board a battered bus to perform an epic drag show in the remote Australian desert.
The show includes songs such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “It’s Raining Men” and “I Will Survive.”
Source: Solano College Theatre brings ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ to stage
Students of all ages are encouraged to showcase their artistic talents in performance or physical arts at the third annual Solano Student Art Showcase.
The Solano County Office of Education hosts the event, which can include singer/songwriters, poets, jugglers, comedians, magicians, musicians, dancers, cheerleaders, painters, photographers, sculptors and others.
“We are grateful to our community partners for their continued support of Solano students through our art showcase,” Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement. “Art not only helps students build skills and creativity, it provides students an outlet for expression, drawing upon their own unique experiences. I cannot wait to see our dynamic performers on stage and our talented artists’ work on display in this year’s exhibit.”
Source: Students encouraged to show off skills at 3rd annual Art Showcase
By Susan Hiland
Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees this week established a rough plan to spend some $12 million in one-time funding from the state, with a sizable chunk tentatively set aside to boost benefits given to retirees.
Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, gave a presentation to the board Thursday on a new Arts, Music and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant the district will receive.
Gov. Gavin Newsom this summer signed Assembly Bill 181, part of the bill established the Arts, Music and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun schools receive arts, music, materials grant from state