• Visual and Performing Arts

    vpa artwork Waverley Administration Building
    1225 Oak Street
    Suite 209-E
    Columbia, SC 29204
    Phone: 803-231-6859, 803-231-6858
    Fax: 803-231-6860

    Walter Graham, Coordinator

    Brittany Green, Assistant

     

     

     

    Welcome to the Office of Visual and Performing Arts!

    We believe that the arts allow us to celebrate and preserve our cultural heritages and explore the realms of expression, imagination and creativity resulting in new knowledge.  Therefore, every individual should be guaranteed the opportunity to learn about, create, and value the visual and performing arts.

     

    The Visual and Performing Arts Department coordinates the dance, music, theatre, and visual arts programs, grades K-12, and the Gifted and Talented - Artistic programs.

     

    The department is responsible for the development, support and implementation of Visual and Performing Arts curricula that are firmly aligned with state and national standards for the arts. Through on-going curriculum development, professional development, strategic planning, program implementation, program assessment, facilities management and research and development of opportunities to learn, the department strives to provide the study of and the making of arts by all students. These goals undergo frequent assessment and evolve to best meet our students' arts education needs.

     

    Through district and school program evaluations, teacher surveys, strategic planning committees, lead teacher mentoring and observation and classroom assessments, the Visual and Performing Arts programs, initiatives, goals and objectives continually are being formally and informally evaluated by a cadre of administrators, teachers, students, parents, community and business partners.

     

    2021-2022 Distinguished Arts Program

     

    The arts continue to thrive at Hand! Hand Middle School’s application to be a Distinguished Arts Program School was accepted for the 2021-22 school year!  Hand will receive $18,000 for its visual and performing arts programs.  Hand has earned this status for over 12 years.  Each year the focus shifts to two classes.  This year, our visual art and orchestra classes will receive new materials and have specialized projects created with guest artists.  This is in addition to being named an Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) school for this year.  #ArtsMatter