The Daily Bulletin Archive

The Buffalo State College preservice fieldwork program, Art Partners, will celebrate 15 years of service to the community with an exhibition and special reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5, in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s Education Department.

Lucy Andrus, professor of art education and art therapy, founded Art Partners in 1994 to address the need for building a bridge between inner-city schoolchildren and Buffalo State faculty and students in teacher training. The program brings art and culture education to urban children with special learning needs who are living and learning in economically depressed areas of the city. Every week for 15 years, Andrus has accompanied her students, teaching and conducting applied research alongside them in a variety of classrooms serving children at risk and those with identified disabilities.

This work has resulted in new course development and content in the areas of diversity training and teaching students with learning differences, national conference presentations and training workshops, and contributions to the professional body of knowledge through national publication. Art Partners has contributed to the education and training of more than 300 Buffalo State art teacher candidates whose volunteer contributions of time and effort have helped make the program possible.

“Art Partners has contributed immensely to my own professional as well as personal development on many levels,” Andrus said. “It has been through the eyes of the children we’ve served that I have seen a clearer picture of what our youth need from the adults in their lives and the best way to go about providing it for them through our teaching and nurturing. I’m most grateful to have had this life-changing opportunity.”

Friday’s reception will recognize the accomplishments and mark the 15th anniversary of Art Partners. All are welcome to attend. The artwork produced by the children and teens in the program attests to the power of collaboration, commitment, and the arts to teach, heal, and bring diverse people together in harmony. The exhibit will be on view through February 14.