DIGITAL “DRIVE-INS” PROJECT K-12 STUDENT ART ON ANCHORAGE MUSEUM AND SCHOOL BUILDING FACADES THIS SPRING

49TH ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ART SHOW ALSO ONLINE MARCH 5 – APRIL 3, 2021

March 05, 2021

ANCHORAGE, AK – The Anchorage Museum, in partnership with the Anchorage School District (ASD), presents the 49th annual student art show, in conjunction with Anchorage School District Youth Art Month, as an in-person and virtual exhibition highlighting artworks from students grades K-12 across the greater Anchorage area.

Anchorage School District student artwork will be displayed as a slideshow on the Anchorage Museum façade daily after sundown March 5 – April 3, 2021, as an innovative way to showcase the exhibition during the pandemic. Artworks will also be on view as a slide show projected onto the building exteriors of K-12 schools throughout Anchorage on Fridays through April 3, and an online exhibit of student work is viewable online.

The community is invited to attend weekly “drive-in” digital display slideshow events every Friday at the following school sites:

• March 5 at 7 p.m., Service High School

• March 12 at 7:30 p.m., East High School

• March 19 at 8:30 p.m., Service High School

• March 26 at 9 p.m., Chugiak High School

• April 2 at 9 p.m., West High School

The theme of this year’s exhibition, “Art Connects Us,” alludes to the perseverance of art through times of societal struggle. As businesses and institutions have had to adjust during the pandemic, so too have students. According to Anchorage School District 2021 Youth Art Month Coordinator Leah Maltbie, this year’s theme inspires students to explore how global changes impacts creativity, imagination and expression.

Youth Art Month is observed in March to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs. Youth Art Month was created in 1961 by the Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI), in cooperation with the National Art Education Association.

The Anchorage Museum is an education partner for the Anchorage School District, supporting learner-driven, inquiry-based approaches to learning. In addition to a longstanding tradition of presenting student artwork in the museum before Covid-19 restricted public gatherings, the Anchorage Museum offers a number of free online education resources for educators and adults engaged in instruction at home at anchoragemuseum.org/learn.

ABOUT THE ANCHORAGE MUSEUM

The Anchorage Museum is the largest museum in Alaska, and one of the top 10 most visited attractions in the state. The museum’s mission is to share and connect Alaska with the world through art, history and science.

Current museum hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, noon to 6p.m. Sundays, closed Monday – Wednesday. General admission is $20, $17 Alaska residents ages 18-64, $15 seniors/students/military, $10 ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and younger. The Discovery Center is open for hourly ticketed entry; ticket reservation required. Learn more online at anchoragemuseum.org/tickets.

Image: Claire Nelson of Eagle River High School. "House on the River Bank." Art Teacher: J. Bera