By Helena Renwick
My experiences with theatre production and front of house have been a part of my life for many years, and there is really nothing as exhilarating as watching a live performance.
My years at Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall in Toronto allowed me to see many musical greats such as the late Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie and the Toronto Symphony, to name a few. Even as front of house manager of the Algonquin Theatre, still nothing compares to the thrill of a live performance.
We are very fortunate to have the Huntsville Festival of the Arts in Huntsville. As a new member of the board, I can’t help but get excited about the preparation for the 2008 season. When I left the theatre to spend more time with my family, I felt as though I still wanted to contribute to the festival. By way of the board and specifically on the education committee, I have been able to fulfill this desire.
NOT BORED: Helena Renwick joined the Huntsville Festival of the Arts board of directors in 2007 and is taking a particularly active role as a member of the education committee.
All three of my children have been exposed to the arts, indirectly because of my time at the theatre and directly by a conscious choice of taking them to various performances. My youngest, Iain, still talks about Splash H2O, which we saw last summer.
Imagine a world without the arts. No dance, music or theatre. What would our culture be? The importance of art in a child’s education is undeniable; however, art education is on a decline and it is often up to the parents to be art educators.
Art has proven to keep children in school, provide motivation, and help children better understand the world in which they live. Thus, parents must be equipped with the tools to expose their children to the arts. Art is a universal language that has stretched over several generations and cultures. Often the best record we have of the past is the art that has been left behind. Visual arts, drama, literature and music enhance the awareness as well as the understanding of other cultures, both past and present, thus enabling children to better understand and communicate with others.
Children learn to appreciate the diversity amongst others. One of the best ways for a parent to expose children to art is through live performance of theatre, dance and music. Through the Huntsville festival, parents can take their children to concerts and plays and also experience the wonder of the Fringe Festival, the Arts Walk and Arts Splash.
Experience those performances with them. They are live and they are real. They get children thinking and talking and they will come away with new thoughts and ideas, their minds open.
The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is waiting for you.
