The art departments at Christian County and Hopkinsville high schools made the plea for additional funding to members of the Hopkinsville Rotary Club Tuesday afternoon.
Paula Gieseke, art teacher at Christian County High School, told Rotarians that 327 students participate in art courses at her school. She shared that students from across the district are winning various competitions while honing their craft, but more money is needed to sustain itself.
The $20 fee is only charged to about 51 percent of her students because of the free-and-reduced lunch program.
CCHS Senior Brylee Barnes, president of the school’s art club and editor of the yearbook, said art is important.
Kaleigh Shaw, vice-president of the club and co-editor of the yearbook, shared that art often finds itself regulated to the sidelines of importance for funding.
Gieseke added they can’t host fundraisers for specific classes, as only school clubs and organizations can raise money within the bounds of a school. She shared hopes of having students paint additional murals throughout Hopkinsville, citing the most recent work at the local YMCA.
Representatives from the Hopkinsville High School art program were unable to attend the meeting.
