About the Arts at Kinkaid 

At Kinkaid, arts education is an integral part of the total school program and has become an essential part of the process for helping students develop their individual voices. All students have learning experiences in music, visual arts, dance, and theatre, which encourage them to establish a lifelong commitment to the arts, value the importance of art in the life of the community, and develop the ability to continue arts education independently. To that end, the department provides a variety of programs that offer opportunities for successful art experiences that both meet the needs and interests of our particular student population by promoting understanding and appreciation, but still stressing sequential development and measuring students' accomplishment.

The Kinkaid Upper School arts program and courses are an extension of concepts and skills learned in middle school as well as the addition of new courses. The upper school program consists of separate but interrelated areas of study: visual arts, photography, band, orchestra, choir, dance, technical theater, architecture, drama, creative writing and film studies. Descriptions of the course offerings are in the Kinkaid Upper School Handbook. Kinkaid provides an opportunity to follow one course of study from one to four years so that students choosing to specialize may gain an in-depth understanding of the art form and advanced level skills. Other students may 'dabble' in both the visual and the performing arts.

The art education program seeks to achieve Kinkaid's purposes and goals by encouraging students to take creative risks, develop independent thought and creative problem-solving, make discriminatory judgments, develop tolerance and sensitivity toward others, respect the work of their fellow students, and develop an acceptable, productive voice.

We have a strong, dedicated, and degreed arts faculty. Most are working artists. All faculty are involved in their professional organizations and attend art workshops and conferences to stay attuned to current methods. They teach on an individual basis, recognizing students with special needs and special talents, often developing original programs.

Kinkaid enjoys creative, motivated, and intelligent students. To this end, the school provides financial support for necessary faculty, resources, equipment, and materials, e.g. books, videos, and resource people. Additionally, the school provides time for assemblies, speakers, student art performances and displays, and participation in a variety of arts festivals to foster appreciation.