March is Ridgefield Youth Arts Month (RYAM), an entire month of celebrating youth involvement in the arts. There is a full calendar of art activities, classes, and events available to young people across Ridgefield thanks to a partnership between the Ridgefield School District, the Ridgefield Art Association, and the Ridgefield community.
\r\nBarbara Wright, with the Ridgefield Art Association, serves on the RYAM committee. “Youth Arts Month was established to emphasize the value of participating in art for all elementary and secondary students,” she said. “In Ridgefield, Youth Arts Month developed from a tiny spark of an idea. Now it has ignited into a month-long celebration of all the arts.”
\r\nRidgefield Youth Arts Month encourages young people to take part in artistic endeavors, including literary, visual, musical, and performing arts. Throughout March, events take place at district schools as well as at community businesses and organizations.
\r\nThe RYAM kickoff is the two-mile Color Run/Walk on Saturday, March 4 from 10-11 a.m. at Overlook Park in downtown Ridgefield. Proceeds from registration benefit Sunset Ridge Intermediate School and View Ridge Middle School.
\r\nThe Public Art Tour of school art installations will be held on Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to noon, starting at View Ridge Middle School. Mindy Barker, the artist for the newest art piece at that campus, will speak to the public and answer questions. A passport will guide you through public art installations at Ridgefield High School, Union Ridge and South Ridge Elementary Schools. Participants can submit their completed, stamped passports to be eligible for a grand prize.
\r\nTo view the full calendar of RYAM events and classes, visit https://www.ridgefieldsd.org/page/youth-arts-month and click on the PDF under the “2023 Course offerings” header.
\r\nTo register for classes, go to https://ridge.revtrak.net/ Please note that classes are free thanks to generous sponsors, including Ridgefield Public Schools Foundation, Dance Fusion Northwest, ABM Janitorial, Rose Realty, Woodland Chiropractic, and Tevis Laspa. Join Ridgefield School District and the Ridgefield community in encouraging a lifetime of creativity!