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Four Shawnee educators journeyed to Quartz Mountain for an arts immersion workshop.
The teachers attended the Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute, a series of retreats in the literary, visual and performing arts taught by award-winning artists. Shawnee Middle School teachers Rebecca Fry, Pamela Hamman and Corey Lumry and Jefferson Elementary School teacher Julie Cheek participated.
“This has been a wonderful opportunity, and I am so thankful to have been able to have this learning experience,” Hamman said. “I really enjoyed being the student.”
OFAI allows Oklahomans to study with nationally renowned artists without traveling far from home. Faculty has included winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. This year’s faculty included Rilla Askew, author of “Fire in Beulah” and an American Book Award winner.
“The artists here at OFAI inspired me to think creatively, and I’m excited to go back to my classroom and encourage my students in more creative ways,” Cheek said.
OFAI is held at the Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center in southwest Oklahoma. Nestled between the dry, cacti-dotted Quartz Mountains and the peaceful Lake Altus, the conference center is the ideal location for arts immersion. Artists gain inspiration from the natural setting, and the secluded locale allows artists to focus on their work with few distractions.
All Oklahoma public school educators automatically receive full scholarships to attend OFAI, including tuition, room and board. Shawnee educators were sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, BancFirst Charitable Foundation and Harris Foundation, Inc., with additional support from the Oklahoma Arts Council and various private donors.
Four Shawnee educators journeyed to Quartz Mountain for an arts immersion workshop.
The teachers attended the Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute, a series of retreats in the literary, visual and performing arts taught by award-winning artists. Shawnee Middle School teachers Rebecca Fry, Pamela Hamman and Corey Lumry and Jefferson Elementary School teacher Julie Cheek participated.
“This has been a wonderful opportunity, and I am so thankful to have been able to have this learning experience,” Hamman said. “I really enjoyed being the student.”
OFAI allows Oklahomans to study with nationally renowned artists without traveling far from home. Faculty has included winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. This year’s faculty included Rilla Askew, author of “Fire in Beulah” and an American Book Award winner.
“The artists here at OFAI inspired me to think creatively, and I’m excited to go back to my classroom and encourage my students in more creative ways,” Cheek said.
OFAI is held at the Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center in southwest Oklahoma. Nestled between the dry, cacti-dotted Quartz Mountains and the peaceful Lake Altus, the conference center is the ideal location for arts immersion. Artists gain inspiration from the natural setting, and the secluded locale allows artists to focus on their work with few distractions.
All Oklahoma public school educators automatically receive full scholarships to attend OFAI, including tuition, room and board. Shawnee educators were sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, BancFirst Charitable Foundation and Harris Foundation, Inc., with additional support from the Oklahoma Arts Council and various private donors.
