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Contact:  Cher Carnell, �������� Extended Education and Summer Programs, (360) 650-3893 or �������.�䲹���Ա�������ɷɳ�.����.

BELLINGHAM – This summer, Western Washington University's College of Fine and Performing Arts will host a new Western Arts Preparatory Academy integrated arts program for youth in addition to the current dance, music and theatre offerings.

The arts program, “Calling all Picassos, Shakepeares and Jane Austens!” features creative writing, fine arts production, and performance art. The program takes place July 25-29 and is open to youth entering grades 3-5 in the fall.

During the program, students will explore the creative writing process and develop their own short stories. Young writers and their original tales will grow as they then design an eye-catching book cover and transform the work into a script for a play.

Adding further artistic experiences to the week, students will bring their story characters to life by constructing play sets and puppets for a showcase performance at Village Books in Bellingham (Fairhaven). All participants will take home a bound book of their work as a lasting token of their creative journey. 

Instructors Gaye Green and Rosanna Porter bring their expertise to the program, providing a strong team with their shared experiences as elementary school teachers and published authors of children’s books. Green holds a master’s degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University and is currently the chair of the �������� Art Education Department.

Porter is an award-winning author of children's books, author of social studies texts for Rand McNally Publishing Co. and a former elementary and middle school teacher.

Find out more about the Western Arts Preparatory Academy and summer options in the arts, dance, music and theatre on the website, . Additional �������� summer programs for grades K-12 are on the website, . If you have questions, email youth@wwu.edu or call (360) 650-3308.