Student creativity and artistic ability are front and center every March 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 throughout Chesterfield County are free and open to the community.
Elementary school visual art displays
Paintings, drawings, sculptures and other art by elementary students will be on display March 10-April 4 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 will display student art.
Visual art from virtual schools
Art by students in the Chesterfield Virtual School and CCPSOnline will be on display 24/7 in online galleries at oneccps.org.
Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase
The monthlong celebration of creativity culminates with a Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase, which is free and open to the community. The event will take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 22 and noon-4 p.m. March 23 at Thomas Dale High, home of the Specialty Center for the Arts. Visual artists from every middle school and high school within Chesterfield County Public Schools will display their work, and performing arts students will present dance, musical and theatrical performances.
Here is the performance schedule for the Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase:
March 22 (large auditorium at Thomas Dale High)
all-county middle school bands: 9 a.m. sixth grade and 9:35 a.m. seventh and eighth grade
all-county jazz bands: 10:30-11 a.m. Duke Ellington ensemble and 11:30 a.m.-noon Count Basie ensemble
all-county guitar ensemble: 1-1:45 p.m.
fiddle fest: 3 p.m.
March 23 (small auditorium at Thomas Dale High)
Thomas Dale High jazz band and Specialty Center for the Arts vocalists: 1-1:45 p.m.
March 23 (large auditorium at Thomas Dale High)
Specialty Center for the Arts dance: noon-12:30 p.m.
Thomas Dale High presents “Into the Woods”: 3-6 p.m.