ARTS EDUCATION TUESDAY MORNING TOPIC

Two Norman residents who have devoted their professional careers to arts education were speakers at the Sooner Rotary meeting Tuesday. Becky Clinton is long-time director of Artworks  summer art daycamp and is also administrator of the Children's Chorus of Norman. Her husband, John Clinton, is a longtime Norman Public Schools music educator who has worked on a state-wide level for the past 12 years on the staff of Central State University. 

They talked about the impact of arts education on children and youth and the increased importance of support for arts education when many school districts, faced with budget restrictions, are choosing to cut the arts programs from their budgets.

Artworks is the recipient of contributions by Sooner Rotarians who share their good news through the donation of "Happy Dollars" at each meeting. Those funds have been contributed to Artworks in memory of Sooner Rotarian Ken Bernier since his death in 2004.  The Artworks camp offers opportunities for children from 8 to 12 to experience art, music, acting and dance.