Talented Visual Arts Program has art exhibit in Abbeville

For the last 17 years, the Vermilion Parish School Board has facilitated a Talented Visual Art program for students identified as talented in the Visual Arts in Vermilion Parish. According to the Louisiana Department of Education, students with extraordinary visual arts talent may be eligible for additional educational support to pursue their art.
This school year began with a record 61 students representing 15 schools in grades 1st through 12th.
Long-time Talented Visual Art Teacher, Charlotte Gallet Broussard, was the only teacher employed by Vermilion Parish until the numbers grew in recent years and a second teacher, Jennifer Doxey Gayneaux, was hired.
The teachers collaborated to plan out projects for students to complete during the school year that allowed them to address each student’s talents and interests as young artists. Their results this year are pretty impressive.
The exhibit of all completed work will be on display for public viewing at the Abbeville Cultural Center in Downtown Abbeville during the months of March and April. Current museum hours are: Monday-Friday 9 AM-4 PM and Saturdays 9 AM-1 PM.
For the 2022-2023 school year, students focused on 3 main projects, some of which are still in progress for some students.
When asked why people should go to the museum to view the art from Talented Art students in the parish, one student summed up what all were thinking:
“People should view the art of talented students in the museum not only to support the young artists in the Talented Art program but to experience the growth that these young artists have gone through with their art. The art in the museum is a way to learn about young artists and how their work communicates their talent. It is an all-around wonderful experience to see how different artists take a prompt and bring it to life. No two pieces are the same, even when we all have the same prompt. Showing up to the art exhibit also shows young artists that their hard work and self-expression are appreciated and loved by those not in the program. Being a young artist comes with many challenges - feeling accepted and seen as one of our biggest challenges, having people view our art truly brings us joy and motivation to continue our craft.”