Adventures in Art is a field trip component of a community-based art education program. This program involves all fourth and fifth grade students from six different elementary schools in Auburn, Alabama. The program is sponsored and held by the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department and the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center.  Funding is made possible, in part, through grants from the Junior League of Lee County and Alabama State Council on the Arts.  The program begins with a performance that is intertwined with the chosen educational theme.  Students then split into groups and attend four components of the program that focus on a visual arts project, a gallery talk with an emphasis on art criticism and aesthetics, a visual arts project, an art and writing workshop and they participate in a performance workshop.

The intent of the program is to demonstrate to students the importance of arts in education and share the philosophy that a true community is a result of the collaborative efforts of diverse members and institutions such as the City of Auburn, Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, Junior League of Lee County, Alabama State Council on the Arts, Auburn Arts Association, Auburn City Schools, and Auburn University. 

If you have questions, please contact Cari Philen, Art Education Specialist for the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department, at 334-501-2944 or by email: cphilen@auburnalabama.org. You can also contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 334-501-2963 for volunteer opportunities.