Posted 4/8/2024
Thanks to the Clerks for Arts program for the current school year, student artwork will be on display in Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller offices throughout Palm Beach County. The unique project is a result of a collaboration between the Palm Beach County Clerk’s office, together with art teachers and students at Dr. Joaquín García High School.
Students celebrated the completion of their artistic works during a gallery opening in the school theater at Dr. García High on April 2. The event included live performances from the school choir and band, as well as a dance assembly organized by the school and the Clerk’s Office.
“The Clerk 4 Arts program is a wonderful partnership between Palm Beach County schools and its community,” said Lisette Cedeño, the 3D Ceramic Teacher at Dr. Garcia High. “It offers our student artists the opportunity to showcase their creativity to the public for many to see and admire.”
The students’ art pieces will be displayed for a year before being sold at an online auction organized by the Clerk’s office. All proceeds raised from the auction go back to the school’s art program. Attendees at the event included Joseph Abruzzo – Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Palm Beach County, Chuck Shaw – City of Greenacres Mayor and former Palm Beach County School District Board Chairman, as well as Oscar Otero – Principal.
“For me as a visiting teacher from Spain, it has been an honor to be part of this wonderful Clerk 4 Arts program that helps to promote art in the community and also helps our students to grow as artists,” said Maria Alcaraz Galdon, the 2D Art Teacher at Dr. Garcia High. “Thank you to all the students for their talent and work, and of course thanks to Mr. Otero and my colleague Ms. Cedeno and the Clerks 4 Art program.”
As part of its collaboration with Dr. García High, the Clerk’s office donated $2,000 to buy art supplies for the Clerks for Arts program. This tradition of giving goes back to 2016 when Clerks for Arts launched its first partnership with Conniston Middle School, raising more than $11,000 for that school’s arts education programs. Dr. García High’s Principal Otero served as Principal of Conniston Middle during that time and has seen firsthand the meaningful experiences students gain from the program, both in and out of the classroom.
