By Gordon Lambie
Richmond Regional High School is getting ready to host its “Knight of the Arts” event this coming Thursday evening, May 12, 2022, from 5 to 8 p.m. An annual fundraising event highlighting the different art programs offered at the school prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knight of the Arts is returning his year for the first time in three years.
“We were just about to do it in the spring of 2020,” said Julia Barrowman, the school’s art teacher, explaining that as a result the 2022 edition will have some artwork on display that present day secondary five students made when they were in secondary three.
Aside from a display and sale of visual arts, the plan for the evening also includes performances by students in the school’s music and drama program.
“Our senior drama students will be putting on three different plays about inspirational youth throughout history, and the impact they have made in our world,” the art teacher shared, adding that, “I just want people in the community to see the great work that the kids do in the arts at this school.”
In addition to being an arts showcase, Knight of the Arts is also a fundraising evening for a different community cause each year.
This year’s charity of choice is “Kurling for Kids”, an organization that raises money for children’s hospitals in our regions.
Asked about what inspired the choice, Barrowman said that “Kurling for Kids” was supposed to be the beneficiary in 2020 before that edition was cancelled. On top of being a worthy cause through its primary mission, though, she said that the local representative of the organization, Mike Cormier, has been very supportive of the arts department at RRHS for years.
The teacher said that Cormier has helped to supply paper for art classes at the school for close to 13 years.
“We were trying to think about how to say thank you, and knowing that he was involved with Kurling for Kids this seemed like a great way to go that while also giving back,” she said.
Despite being a fundraiser, access to the evening’s events is free. Instead of asking those who come to all pay an entry fee, Barrowman said that a donation bin will be made available, and also the proceeds of the art sale will go to the non-profit. A representative from “Kurling for Kids” will also be on site to answer any questions and hand out gifts.
Barrowman also said that the event is benefitting, this year, from a student volunteerism grant through the the Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi de Richmond which has allowed some aspects of the programming to be improved.
We hope to have a great turnout,” she said.