The auditorium is filled with teenagers. It is June 27th, 2010 and the nervous energy that fills the room is almost unbearable. Suddenly there is music from the foyer, and all talking stops.
Seven musicians come in playing “When The Saints Come Marching In.” Trombone, trumpet, saxophone, three drummers, and a guy playing maracas one after another. The seven of them dance through the aisles and rows, challenging each other to solos, and inviting us to join however we can. All pretenses vanish, we cannot stay in our seats, we are up, dancing, clapping to the beat and cheering for these brilliant musicians. This is how it started for me.
Every year close to 150 Vermont high school students come to the Castleton State College fine arts center’s auditorium interested in the arts and leave two weeks later in love with them. Governor’s Institute for the Arts is a gem as far as state run and funded programs are concerned. Students live for two weeks on a college campus with much of the same freedoms as college students. That in its self is a rare and highly appreciated display of trust for teenagers, and as a result, privileges are seldom ever abused.
Governor’s Institutes of the Arts boasts a fabulous faculty. Teachers include professional musicians, freelance artists, published poets and acclaimed slam poets, professional dancers, and even one member of the Blue Man Group. About the faculty, Savanah Koval an alumnus of Governor’s Institute of the Arts, 2010 said, “The teachers I had were the best teachers I've ever had in my life, and I learned so much from them, and my classes were amazing. I have no regrets (about the classes I chose).” Teachers are willing to teach any form of art they know and are enthusiastic and accommodating to students ideas and interests.
Students have the opportunity to pick two classes to take through their time at Governor’s. Taught at a college level, these classes often prove to be both challenging and inspiring for young people. “It confirmed that I was good enough to be an artist and go to art school.” Said Surinda Cavanagh, an alumnus of Governor’s Institute of the Arts, “I learned what it was like to put your work up in front of people, with other really good artists.” Along with giving young artists a sense of scope, Governor’s Institute also exposes students to the vast network that makes up the art community and the huge amount of support it offers.
“There was such a variety of people there, and everyone was so open and loving, it was the best atmosphere I've ever been in… I definitely feel I've improved a lot as an artist and as a person,” Savanah Koval explained to me. This seems to be the overwhelming opinion of this institute. The people are amazing, the community is supportive, and students want to bring back their experiences to change their schools.
Unfortunately, Governor’s Institute of the Arts is perhaps one of the best kept secrets Vermont has to offer. In speaking with several alumni of the program, I found that many had talked about the program with friends and discovered that most of them had no knowledge of its existence before the conversation.
Governor’s Institute tries to touch the lives of as many Vermonters as it can, and the program does an excellent job. Every year, the program gives a samba parade for the Castleton community complete with music, dancers, and an army of puppets made by the students with help from Bread and Puppet. However, the general consensus among alumni and faculty is that the program is not touching as many people as it could.
In speaking with teachers, all said that the program had done wonderful things for their students. Many said that students had come back excited and inspired. Upon returning to school, many had told everyone they knew about their experiences and urged them to go. Despite this, the word doesn’t seem to be getting out to students.
While alumni and faculty are trying to raise interest and advocate for the program, they can’t do it alone. Educators and parents need to be involved as well. A few students I spoke with, explained to me that either their parents or they themselves did not believe that a career in the arts was profitable, or stable and as such they would rather spend two weeks of summer pursuing something that would be impressive on a college application, and benefit their studies. This is perhaps the most painful situation, when a truly talented and motivated young artist does not have the support or see the benefit to attend the program.
At one point during my own time at Governor’s Institute for the Arts, a group of my fellow students and I over heard a group of girls from an athletic camp talking in the cafeteria. As they walked past our table one disgustedly said to another, “Art is a dying art.” This is the kind of attitude people who love the arts are fighting against, the misconception that art is a luxury, and not a necessity. Art is alive and well, however it needs help to stay so. Art is as fundamental as reading and math, and is very important to the education of our youth.
There are other Institutes that also do incredible work. These include Mathematics, Engineering, Asian Cultures, and Youth Activism. All of these have exceptional programs and need support as well. If you know a student who is passionate about one of these areas, one of the best things you can do is empower them to apply. I for one would have never had the experience I did without the encouragement of my friends and family, and I know that it will stay with me for the rest of my life. Perhaps one day you will catch one of your students drawing in your class, or you will hear music drifting from the door way of a practice room. Ask if the child has ever heard of Governor’s Institute of the Arts, you might just point someone towards a life changing experience.