WCA, school partner to expand arts education
Wayne Center for the Arts and Liberty Preparatory School are celebrating their fifth year of collaboration, bringing arts education to students in Wayne County. The program spans 28 weeks, with WCA instructors leading twice-weekly sessions during the school day.
Wayne Center for the Arts and Liberty Preparatory School are celebrating their fifth year of collaboration, bringing arts education to students in Wayne County.
Liberty Prep, a charter school known for its personalized learning environment, partners with WCA to integrate creativity into education.
The program spans 28 weeks, with WCA instructors leading twice-weekly sessions during the school day. This year, in addition to visual arts, students are engaging in hands-on clay projects. Led by instructors Lacey Huffman and Roberta Myers, students are exposed to diverse artistic methods and materials. Huffman, a painter and educator, brings her expertise in visual arts while Myers offers ceramics, emphasizing its therapeutic and expressive benefits.
“The Wayne Center for the Arts provides the students at Liberty Prep with not just an exciting experience, but a way to express themselves through a creative outlet while simultaneously learning about art history and theory,” said Joseph Weisend, Liberty Preparatory School principal.
Originally designed to complement art appreciation lessons, the program has grown into a hands-on elective, and the collaboration underscores the belief that art can be a tool for enhancing self-esteem, reducing stress and building social-emotional skills.
With 90% of Liberty Prep’s students qualifying for free lunch, the arts serve as a critical support system, addressing both educational and emotional needs. Research from the National Endowment for the Arts highlights the impact of arts engagement on academic performance and social outcomes, particularly for students from underserved backgrounds.
By integrating the arts into their curriculum, Liberty Prep and WCA are addressing community needs while fostering future opportunities. This initiative helps students develop skills such as creative problem-solving, resilience and collaboration.
“The Wayne Center for the Arts program provides us students with enjoyable activities and lessons to look forward to each week. The lessons are always easy to follow, informative, and most importantly, they are a fun outlet to express ourselves with. It is always a joy to do,” said Sharet, a Liberty Prep senior.
This program is made possible through support from the Children’s Resource Fund at the Wayne County Community Foundation.
For more information about the Wayne Center for the Arts and its programs, visit www.WayneArtsCenter.org. For more information about Liberty Preparatory Academy, visit www.LibertyPrepEdu.org.