For Immediate Release -- 10/2/09
Morgan Arts Council • Berkeley Springs, WV
Press contact only: Mary Hott -- 304-258-2300

NEW CLASSES FOR ARTS AFTERSCHOOL

BERKELEY SPRINGS ---- The Ice House afterschool program begins its
ninth school year on Monday, October 12 with an exciting new teen
video class announced Morgan Arts Council (MAC) Executive Director
Mary Hott. Anthony Bellissimo is directing the Teen Music Video class
on Wednesday that has teens filming teen bands. "MAC has long had a
commitment to introducing new technology into art and this class is a
giant leap in that direction," said Hott. "It also connects with the
Back To Our Roots project. The kids will be documenting roots music
future edition."

Classes are available for children from five to teenager and include
other topics from Creative Dramatics for young children on Mondays to
Papermaking on Fridays for those nine and older and Arts and Crafts
Sampler on Tuesdays for those from five to eight in age. Classes meet
weekly at the Ice House from 3:30 to 5pm.

"We're very enthusiastic about the video class," said Hott. "Digital
technology in the arts not only allows the teens to be creative in
ways that are relevant to their world, but it also can show some of
them how exciting math and science can be when they experience it in
the form of crafting a music video." Videos created in the class will
be launched on MAC's MySpace web page as well as being part of the
Music Census documentation on MAC's Virtual Creative Community.
Hott's extensive research on the learning benefits of art classes for
children can be accessed from the MAC website.

Afterschool art classes can benefit all ages. "We want every child to
have a chance at this creative effort," said Jennie Mallory, MAC's
program administrator. "They're welcome whether they are homeschooled
or attending schools other than in Morgan County. We also encourage
first time students." Registration forms have been sent home with
kids from Morgan County schools and are also available at the Morgan
County Library and online at www.mcaicehouse.org. "We'll take
registration when the child arrives for class," said Mallory. "We
also allow the teacher flexibility in extending the age range for each
class up to one year in either direction."

Although the afterschool classes beginning on October 12 are at the
Ice House, Hott announced that finishing touches on MAC's first
afterschool program specifically for Paw Paw are almost complete.
"We'll be announcing details soon," she said.

Several school buses stop at the Ice House located at Independence and
Mercer. Call 258-2300 for more information. There are sliding scale
discounts and snacks and materials are included in the costs.

MAC's highly praised Ice HouseYouth Art Project earned new funders
this year including the Morgan County schools and the West Virginia
Statewide Afterschool Network. Grants continue to be received from
the Arts in Education program of the West Virginia Commission on the
Arts.