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April 3, 2000

ULM hosts a very special arts festival

Young students with special needs will have the opportunity to share and display their artistic talents at the 18th regional Very Special Arts Festival at The University of Louisiana at Monroe, April 14.

Students from the Monroe City, Ouachita and Morehouse parish school systems will participate in the festival from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ULM's Ewing Coliseum.

The major purpose of the festival is to demonstrate the impact of the arts in developing artistic responsiveness and increasing general learning achievement among students with special needs, said Dr. Lamoine Miller, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at ULM and chairman of the event.

ULM has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Very Special Arts/Louisiana Board of Directors to conduct the event. Co-sponsors of the festival are the ULM College of Education and Human Development, the Art Department, the Louisiana State Department of Education and the private, non-profit organization Very Special Arts, an educational affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Activities will include 25 workshops in which students and their teachers will participate. Workshop topics include dance/movement, music, creative drama, poetry, handicrafts and art-in-science. An assembly, "Special Performances by Special People," will feature entertaining performances by the students, and art work from the students will be displayed.

The public is invited to view the art exhibits and live performances at the festival. For more information, contact Dr. Miller at (318) 342-1266 or festival co-chairperson, Jorenda Stone, at (318) 342-1257.

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