Caswell Arts Thanks Caswell County Schools for Arts Unplugged Partnership

As shared with members of the Caswell County Board of Education and Caswell County Schools Superintendent by Karen Williamson during public comments of the August 10 school board meeting

Good morning, I am Karen Williamson, Executive Director of Caswell Arts, and I am honored to be here to extend our sincere gratitude to each of you. Thank you for your vital support in partnering with us to host our summer arts program, Arts Unplugged, at Bartlett Yancey High School. 

From July 20th through July 23rd, the halls of BY came alive with creative energy. For those four days, running from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, local students were fully immersed in morning and afternoon activities, across six distinct creative disciplines: acting, dance, culinary arts, acrylic painting, illustration, and vocal coaching. 

While the numbers show our reach, the commitment of these young people highlights the program's true impact. On our first day, we welcomed 28 students. On Day 2, that number increased to 29; and for the remainder of the camp, we maintained a perfect 100% attendance rate. Every single student showed up every single day without a single absence. In summer youth programming, that level of consistency and retention is extraordinary. 

The clearest picture of their enthusiasm came on Day 3. During the lunch break, a group of students came up to me and asked if we could cut lunch short so they could get into their afternoon sessions early. They didn't want the extra free time; they were anxious to get back into their artistic studies. Listening to their feedback, we are already planning to shorten next year's lunch break from 60 minutes to 40 minutes to maximize their studio time. 

The response from families was equally encouraging. Multiple parents approached us asking if we could expand the camp to five days next summer. They want us to include a final-day showcase so that family members and friends can gather to see and hear what these talented young people have accomplished over the week. 

We recently hosted representatives from the United Way, who wanted to see firsthand how Caswell Arts is putting data from the DRF Out-of-School Cohort into action through our Arts Unplugged program. They were especially impressed by two things: how we give students real agency in choosing their activities, and our strong partnership with the local school system. As a result, the United Way will be cross-promoting Arts Unplugged across their website and social media platforms. 

None of this success would have been possible without your willingness to open up the facilities at BY to our community's youth. By doing so, you helped to provide a safe, professional, and welcoming space where students could explore new talents, gain confidence, and build meaningful connections. 

On behalf of our board at Caswell Arts, our instructors, and the families we served, thank you for your support in making Arts Unplugged a success. We are deeply grateful for this collaboration, and we look forward to partnering with you again next summer at BY.