STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
The Boys & Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County, and Caverna Independent School’s Visual Arts Class are beginning a new collaboration that will give Caverna visual arts students an opportunity to gain real world experience in graphic design and work directly with a local organization.
The partnership came from a conversation between Marla England, Visual Arts Teacher at Caverna Independent School, and Gabrielle Hayes, Unit Director for the Boys and Girls Club.
“With the growing use of artificial intelligence in graphic design and social media, we saw an opportunity to give students an experience that goes beyond the classroom,” stated a press release from the club. “Students will be creating flyers and promotional materials for the Boys & Girls Club that will be used to promote actual programs, events and opportunities throughout the community.”
“Rather than designing something solely as a classroom assignment, students will get to work from the club’s needs, and intended audience, develop their concepts and receive feedback from their teacher, classmates and the Boys & Girls Club,” the release stated. “Their completed work will then be used by the Club.”
England said the collaboration gives her students several opportunities that directly connect to what they are learning in the classroom.
“Working with the Boys & Girls Club to create their flyers helps my students in at least three different ways. First, they are getting first hand experience working with a client. They are learning about audience and how to create what is needed for their client. Second, they are improving their graphic design skills through feedback from their teacher, their classmates, and the client themselves. And third, they are working with community members which is one of our CIS competencies that students are to demonstrate before graduation. All of these together will make them better graphic designers,” England said.
For the club, the collaboration is also an extension of the mission to create opportunities for youth throughout the community, the release stated.
“Ultimately, the mission of the Boys & Girls Club extends to all youth, not just those who come through the doors on a daily basis. We want to continue building relationships with these young people, the staff and families across our school systems, and any real world opportunities we can provide, we want to!” Hays said.
Mallie Boston, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County, is also supportive of the collaboration and interested in continuing to build relationships with Caverna Independent School and the Cave City community.
“The club hopes this can become one of several opportunities to connect local students with real world experiences and community organizations,” the release stated.
The first projects will focus on materials for the Boys & Girls Club, but the organizations see potential for the collaboration to grow. The goal is to create more opportunities for students to work with community partners, build their portfolios and experience what it is like to create for an actual client.
