Friday, February 15 is the educational program where over 250 students from local schools are given guided tours. There are artists on site demonstrating techniques and leading students in learning activities to enrich their experience.
Tickets $25 in advance and $30 at the door; available at Kicks, H&H Tire, Undercover Books, and The Good Hope School.
The exhibit began in 1987 with an idea to share and sell local artwork at an exhibit where the artists would then donate portions of their sales to The Good Hope School's Scholarship Fund. It was a needed partnership for the school, whose principles include providing an exceptional education for all students willing to demonstrate a commitment to excellence, regardless of race or economic status. Currently the school has over 40% of its students receiving some form of financial aid, which reflects the diversity of the St. Croix community. The artists donate 40% of sales from the exhibit floor, plus 50% of the gift shop sales that run simultaneously with the exhibit. These donations have directly affected the school each year, providing tens of thousands of dollars to ensure local students experience the standards of a college preparatory education.
Thousands of visitors attend each year and nearly 70 artists both local and International are featured in the exhibition through a highly selective process. |