Ridgefield celebrates Youth Arts Month

Ridgefield — Ridgefield School District is celebrating Youth Arts Month in style this year, joining with local businesses, organizations, the city of Ridgefield and community members to offer opportunities for children to create and display art throughout the month of March. Ridgefield Youth Arts Month developed as a way to increase support for the arts throughout the community, while also supporting the district’s commitment to delivering personalized learning experiences for each student. In celebration, Ridgefield Community Education is offering a variety of free classes teaching arts and crafts, dance and other creative expressions, all put on by local artists. “We are excited to offer our students a variety of opportunities to explore their creative side. Whether it be hand crafts, dancing or theatre, Ridgefield youth are sure to find a way to express themselves through art,” said Terri Cochran, the district’s community education director, in a press release. Nathan McCann, superintendent of the Ridgefield School District and member of the event’s organizing committee echoes Cochran’s enthusiasm. “Participation in the fine and performing arts provides our students a creative outlet to express their emotions, thoughts, and skills,” said McCann. “Robust support for the arts is essential to a whole child education and research tells us that high-quality art educational opportunities enhance critical-thinking skills and foster critical values such as empathy and tolerance.”