March 1, 2024

Good afternoon Visual Arts students, parents and supporters! One more week until spring break!!!

The deadline to submit for Young American Talent is Saturday, March 1. Booker T students can waive the fee for up to three pieces with the code BTW25.

The Creative Arts Center of Dallas is offering a free live figure drawing workshop to our students. Classes are from 3-6 p.m. Saturdays, March 22-May 10, at the CAC (2360 Laughlin Dr, Dallas, TX 75228). Students MUST REGISTER to reserve a spot. Please note, this is a classical figure drawing class with a live model. Visit the CAC website for details on the class and how to register for free. (Side note: my student took this class so if you have any questions, please feel free to email me.)

Auditions for Creations, the final cross-conservatory production of the school year, will be Tuesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 5 during Flex, lunch and after school. Students wishing to audition should sign up outside Mr. Davison's room.

The PTSA's Summer Scholarship application opens Saturday, March 1. Eligible students (9th-11th grade) can get up to $500 toward a summer academic, performing or visual arts intensive or enrichment. Visit the PTSA Membership Toolkit for details.

Studio Arts Dallas is hiring recent graduates and/or alums for summer, afterschool and weekend work. Please email studioartsregistrar@gmail.com for details.

• Volunteers are needed to help with drop off (Saturday, May 3), installation (Monday-Tuesday, May 5-6) and pick up of art (Saturday, May 17) for Young American Talent. See the sign up for details.
• Our receptions calendar has been updated through the end of the year. Volunteers are needed at our final four receptions on March 27, April 24 and May 8.
• I Am Booker T Day is Saturday, April 12. Parents and students are encouraged to volunteer to welcome our newest families, sell memberships and merchandise, and answer questions about the Visual Arts Guild and Conservatory.

Parents AND students can volunteer for these opportunities. Students should check with Visual Arts faculty to see if they can log crew hours for volunteering.

Students should also continually check the online call board for the latest crew opportunities.

If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity next year, please let us know. We have a variety of open positions for officers and committee chairs including:

• President: Presides at regular meetings and oversees operations of VA Guild and its committees; works closely with faculty, PTSA and other guild presidents
• Treasurer: Administers VA Guild funds, assists with creating VA Guild budget; provides regular treasurer and financial reports; helps with any required annual filings
• Membership chair: Recruits news members and membership renewals at Pegasus Pick Up and I Am Booker T Day; uses Membership Toolkit to manage memberships; oversees social committee that plans membership events
• Senior photos committee chair: Works with photographer and seniors on to schedule sessions and take payments; helps supervise sessions on picture day; arranges additional make-up days as needed; prints and installs photos on senior wall
• Hospitality chair: Coordinates several faculty appreciation events including the back-to-school breakfast in July/August
• Communications: Creates weekly newsletter via Membership Toolkit; updates website; manages Instagram and Facebook profiles
• Portfolio Day chair: Coordinates hospitality for faculty and guests; volunteer at the one-day event and/or supervises volunteers; creates and distributes gift bags

There are several roles that have to be filled by volunteers to ensure we provide basic programs and resources to our faculty and students. As you may know, the school does not provide volunteer or financial support for these conservatory events. Without the support of our guild and its members, we will have to scale back.

DISD invites your participation in budget meetings for the 2025-26 school year. Visit the DISD website for dates and locations.

• Monday, March 3 - Thursday, March 6: Paul Baker Plays, Black Box, 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 5: Spring Classics in the MAT at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, March 6: Arts & Culture CUE Day
• Thursday, March 6: Spring Classics in the MAT at 7 p.m.
• Monday, March 10: First day of spring break
• Tuesday, March 18: PTSA at 6 p.m. in the BTW Commons

See the listings below for additional events. Visual Arts Conservatory and guild events are marked with *. Visit the school calendar for details on schoolwide events.

Visual Arts Guild at BTWHSPVA

2501 Flora St.

Dallas TX 75201