Riverside Arts Magnet held its annual Festival of the Arts on Tuesday, October 15. Riverside Arts Magnet is a public fine arts high school on the Ramona High School campus. Students complete the standard high school curriculum while participating in various arts-related programs. Everything from the fine arts, like painting and dance, to technical focuses, like television production.
Beyond the arts programs offered at traditional campuses, Riverside Arts Magnet allows students to participate in more groups and projects. There are five choirs and visual art focuses, such as ceramics and studio art. Several groups were performing at the Festival. Several students quickly changed from formal show choir to musical theater performances of RENT. There were Ballet Folklorico dancers, visual arts exhibits, and stations for the student-managed wardrobe department.
Riverside Arts Magnet Show Choir students. (Ken Crawford)RENT musical theater performance. (Ken Crawford)
Several fine arts students have been working on a four-part mural on the outside wall of the guidance office. The mural represents indigenous and Chicano culture and is a tribute to the artists and their community. The covered murals were honored with a Four Directions Ceremony before the public unveiling.
Four Directions Ceremony. (Ken Crawford)
The murals were vibrantly colored and well-executed. While there was a common aesthetic thread, the murals depicted various Latino and Indigenous experiences. One of the muralists, Daniella Oleta Flores, told me about what it means to participate in the project. “It’s special to be part of something permanent at my school that pays tribute to my community. I’m excited about contributing more in the future.”
Although the Festival is only held once a year, the school offers several opportunities to see what’s happening throughout the year. It’s great to see so many kids chasing excellence; their commitment to their crafts is evident in their output. You can follow Riverside Arts Magnet and their schedule of events on their Instagram page.
CBU and the U.S. Air Force partnered to host the Aim High Flight Academy, offering free aviation training to high school students to address the national pilot shortage.
Students in grades 9–12 can perform their original poetry at the Excellence Through Equity Conference in Palm Springs. Selected poets will address the theme "If I Speak, Will You Listen?" and receive recognition for their talents.
