Longtime arts program is part of Foundation's core mission - The Vicksburg Post

Longtime arts program is part of Foundation’s core mission

Published 5:02 pm Tuesday, January 21, 2020

: Students a River Kids Free After-school Art Program enjoy painting during the spring series of classes. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post, file photo)

Since its inception 25 years ago, the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation has offered a free art program for children in Vicksburg and Warren County.

Geared toward students who are in the first through sixth grade, the River Kids Free After School Art Program encourages children to discover and develop their creative talents.

“This is done by exposing their creativity through drawing, painting, crafts, collage, ceramics, sculpture and many more exciting techniques,” SCHF Executive Director Stacey Mahoney said.

The art program is offered for 13-weeks during a fall semester and then again for a spring semester.

Registration is currently underway for the spring semester, Mahoney said, with a few spots still available.

Each semester, the River Kids Free After School Art Program accepts 60 students on a first-come, first-served basis with the 2020 spring semester beginning Jan. 30 at the SCHC, 1302 Adams St.

Students will meet on Thursdays from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

While the program is free, Mahoney said, it does require a full semester commitment from the parents.

Serving as instructors for the art program are Karen Biedenharn and Ashleigh Holliday.

“Karen is so familiar with the program since she has been involved since it started,” Mahoney said.

The River Kids Free After School Art Program is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. The program also receives funding from the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation’s individual and corporate members, the city of Vicksburg and various other appropriations.

“We credit these groups for their support, which allows us to offer the program free,” Mahoney said. “Their ongoing support is so important, she said, since it defrays the cost of teacher salaries and supplies.”

For more information or to register, call 601-631-2997 or email info@southernculture.org.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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