Student creativity and artistic ability are front and center each year when Chesterfield County Public Schools celebrates Arts Fest. The school system leans in to national Youth Art Month, Music in Our Schools Month and Theater in Our Schools Month, all three of which take place in March. Arts Fest displays and events are free and open to the community, including:
Mini Museum
Visual art from virtual schools
Elementary school visual art displays
Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase
Mini Museum
Art classes collaborated to establish the world’s largest, kid-created museum of tiny artworks. The record-breaking display includes approximately 2,416 miniature artworks created by 2,196 students in grades PK-12 throughout Chesterfield County Public Schools. The Mini Museum is open through April 19 at Chesterfield Towne Center, 11500 Midlothian Turnpike. Mall hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Visual art from virtual schools
Art by students in the Chesterfield Virtual School and CCPSOnline is on display 24/7 in online galleries at oneccps.org.
Elementary school visual art displays
Paintings, drawings, sculptures and other art by elementary students will be on display March 23-April 25 in Chesterfield County Public Library branches and the Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education. Library hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Perkinson Center is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. This list shows where each elementary school is displaying student art.
Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase
A highlight of Arts Fest is the Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase, scheduled 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 11 and noon-4 p.m. April 12 at Clover Hill High, 13301 Kelly Green Lane. Visual artists from every middle school and high school will display their work, and performing arts students will present dance, musical and theatrical performances. Here is the performance schedule for the large auditorium of Clover Hill High:
April 11
all-county middle school bands: 9 a.m. sixth grade; 9:35 a.m. seventh and eighth grade
all-county jazz bands: 10:30 a.m. Duke Ellington ensemble; 11:30 a.m. Count Basie ensemble
all-county guitar ensemble at 1 p.m.
fiddle fest at 3 p.m.
April 12
Specialty Center for the Arts dance, instrumental, vocal and theater performances at noon
Clover Hill High and Thomas Dale High strings and percussion ensembles at 1:30 p.m.
Clover Hill High and Thomas Dale High jazz bands at 2:30 p.m.
BoneFire trombone ensemble at 3:30 p.m.