Charleston, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will welcome 359 students to the West Virginia Culture Center on Friday, April 26, for the 2024 Arts Alive Showcase. The event, currently in its 18th year, will celebrate student excellence and provide a stage for students to display their artistic talents with an art exhibition at 6 p.m., followed by live performances at 7 p.m.
Attendees will receive a red-carpet welcome featuring characters from Barbie and The Wizard of Oz. The Cabell Midland Marching Knights will provide a processional before the live performances begin.
The exhibition features more than 200 art pieces selected from state arts conferences, festivals and other exhibitions. PK-12 students designed the drawings, sculptures, photographs, paintings, architecture, graphic designs and more that will be displayed. The live student performances will feature concert and jazz bands, choirs, solo and ensemble dances, vocal and instrumental solos, theater productions and more.
“For the last 18 years, students have been able to fully express themselves through drawing, music, singing, dance, photography and other creative outlets on a statewide stage. Arts Alive is a testament to the diversity of talent West Virginia students possess, and it showcases their fine arts accomplishments,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “There is no celebration of student success quite like Arts Alive, and I am thankful such an opportunity exists. I cannot wait to see the spectacular artwork students will bring to Charleston this year.”
In anticipation of the showcase, the WVDE hosted a poster design contest. Selected from among 120 submissions, the 2024 Arts Alive poster features Robert C. Byrd High School Senior Alexis Brewer’s design (attached).
The Arts Alive performances will be livestreamed courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting on their YouTube channel.
Learn more about Arts Alive by visiting the WVDE’s Arts Alive page.
For media inquiries, contact Christy Day at the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Communications at 304-558-2699 or christy.day@k12.wv.us.
