The MAC, the South Gym, and the Beasley cafeteria (and all parts in between) were bursting with creativity and talent at the third annual MICDS Arts Fest last week. Perennial favorite activities returned, such as the Mad Splatter, The Art of Improvisation, Wheel Throwing, and the Instrument Test Drive. Our supremely creative arts faculty and staff also presented a variety of new options, including a Camera Obscura, Medieval Illuminated Letters, and Color Space Virtual Reality. MICDS families also enjoyed creating a giant, collaborative work of art with butcher paper sidewalk chalk, finding beautiful works of art at the Art Rescue, visiting with Charger the Ram, and viewing the work of our youngest students in a temporary Beasley Gallery Walk staged in the Lower School cafeteria.
In between trying out all the experiential art, visitors enjoyed performances that included scenes from the Middle School production of Frozen Jr. and the Upper School musical Hadestown: Teen Edition. Our talented student musicians of all ages also offered concerts for orchestra, band, and choir. Click here to see the full schedule of events offered at Arts Fest ’25.
The Arts Boosters volunteers staffed a very popular booth, distributing cotton candy, helping guests make their own custom buttons, and encouraging temporary face art with glittery stickers. Our food service partner, FLIK, offered brownies, cookies, and popcorn.
The planning committee moved Arts Fest indoors this year due to the forecast of inclement weather, and the wind and rain outside did not dampen spirits inside. The mood was festive and appreciative of all forms of art and the talented students, faculty, and staff who make it.
Thank you to all the student and parent volunteers for staffing various activities and helping performers prepare. A huge thank you to our dedicated Facilities crew for working late to set up, update, and break down all the infrastructure required to produce such a large event, and to Associate Director of Events Sydney Brockman for her steady hand, calm demeanor, and creative ideas in executing Arts Fest ’25.
Dr. Sally Maxwell, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning, said, “Arts Fest was a smashing success! It was so wonderful to see students of all ages making art together. Thank you to our arts faculty for developing fabulous opportunities for students to be creative with new people in new ways. Thank you to our facilities team for managing the pivot to indoors with the weather forecast. And thank you to everyone who adjusted their plans to help make it all happen.”