Sara Kunnemann, art teacher at Lake Forest Middle School in Cleveland, said her art students "did some amazing projects" after she was awarded two Allied Arts Council of Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce Arts in Education grants totaling $463.
The funds from the grant went towards kits to make sketchbooks, drawing and painting materials, linoleum printmaking blocks and printmaking supplies.
Ms. Kunnemann was also awarded a grant through Bradley/Cleveland Public Education Foundation for a new kiln, clay, glaze and clay tools totaling $3,497.82.
She said, "These grants have transformed my classroom.
"The Arts in Education grant made it possible for two Advanced Art classes and an after school Art Club made up of 85 students to do a sketchbook and printmaking project that I didn’t have money to afford. A sketchbook is such a valuable tool for an artist, but they can be expensive. This grant gave each student the opportunity to design and create their own sketchbook that they could then keep to fill with their own art.
"Thanks to this generous grant last year and this year are the first times I have been able to make sketchbooks with my students and they absolutely loved the project. Printmaking is one of my students’ favorite projects. I notice that they get so excited about the actual project itself and are always so proud of the finished product.
"The BCPEF grant I was awarded allowed four classes of seventh graders and the two Advanced Art 8th grade classes, as well as art club to create clay pottery and sculptures this year. My kiln broke last year and without this grant our school would not have been able to do clay in art. It allowed 200 students to do this project just this year and will continue to influence the future of art at Lake Forest Middle School for years to come.
"My students learned so much during the lesson.
The past three years I was able to do projects with my students that I ordinarily wouldn’t have been able to afford thanks to the generous grants I received from the Allied Arts Council of Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce and BCPEF."