March 5, 2024
In the Escondido Union School District, students at every grade level have the opportunity to express their creativity in paints and pastels, in clay and on canvas, through musical instruments and movement.
The elementary district welcomes community members to see thousands of examples of this art in action at the 12th annual smART Festival on Saturday, March 9, at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. This celebration of the arts in education will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Center Museum and Center Theater. The event is free and open to the public.
For this annual community festival, the CCAE Foundation dedicates space to highlighting arts education and the center’s long-standing partnership with the Escondido Union School District. “This vibrant event celebrates the accomplishments of this invaluable partnership,” EUSD Superintendent Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra said, adding that it’s especially exciting to have this year’s festival held during California Arts Education Month.
“EUSD truly values the role of visual and performing arts in a well-rounded education,” Dr. Rankins-Ibarra said. “The smART Festival gives us the opportunity to show the community just that. No student is left out when it comes to the arts in EUSD!”
The smART Festival will feature thousands of pieces of two- and three-dimensional art created by our talented students, with all 24 schools and all grade levels represented; performances from the Ignite Dance team, ballet folklorico troupes, and musicians; a photography exhibit from the 5th-grade My Story project completed in collaboration with Outside the Lens; and a themed, collaborative exhibit from our middle schools. In addition, middle school students will be hosting a make-and-take art project for festival visitors. We are looking forward to entertaining you at this year's smART Festival!