Very Spectacular Arts Festival returns to WVU-P
PARKERSBURG — After a year’s absence, the Very Spectacular Arts Festival returned to the West Virginia University at Parkersburg campus Tuesday.
“It’s the 20th year for the event. It’s designed for students with disabilities,” said Jane Irvine, the program’s coordinator. “But last year we couldn’t have the event because of the excess of missed instructional days and the students were unable to be excused to assist.”
Irvine said approximately 350 students from six counties registered to attend the event, which is sponsored by the PM Company through a Spirit of Giving Grant. The counties, according to Irvine, were Wood, Wirt, Washington, Tyler, Pleasants and Doddridge.
“We’ve got two classes from Parkersburg High School, one class from Parkersburg Catholic, a class from the Wood County Technical Center and one group from St. Marys,” said Irvine. “The group from St. Marys created the decorations for the event.”
She added there were “approximately 80-100 adults and volunteers who help make this happen. Everyone who volunteers for this event receives so much enjoyment from knowing they have brought joy to so many students.”
There were 19 arts stations situated throughout the first floor of WVU-P with a theme of “Everyday Heroes.”
“There was no set time limit for students to go to an arts station,” she said. “Students could go from one station as they chose and they could spend as much time there as they chose to,” during the five-hour event.
Students could participate in stations ranging from karaoke to creative movement, from music and making bead bracelets to doing dress-up in costumes from the Actors Guild of Parkersburg and having pictures made.