Written by: Helen Treacy
The Academy Center of the Arts launched its mobile arts program, Academy in Motion, with a dedication to reaching communities throughout the Greater Lynchburg area in which there are barriers to accessibility to on-site art programs. This mobile program is all made possible by a little white bus with eye-catching paintings exuding the creativity this bus facilitates.
The Academy in Motion program brings the following arts activities to off-site locations for arts outreach: painting, drawing, hand-building clay, crafts, and so much more!
In the past, the Academy in Motion art bus has stopped by several community events in and outside of the Lynchburg area to allow creatives of all ages to come by the bus to participate in a craft. From Pride in the Park to the International Peace Day Celebration, even the Out of Darkness Walk and International Festival, Academy in Motion is certainly moving its way all around the Lynchburg area. It even stops at schools in the local area to teach them arts, crafts, and the importance of creativity.
One of the community festivities the bus was in attendance at was Lynchburg Parks and Recreation’s Daddy Daughter Dance Party at The Community Market on Saturday, June 11th, 2022. Music from the eccentric Trolls movie soundtrack flooded the streets of Downtown Lynchburg on June 11th, where fathers and daughters dressed accordingly for the Trolls-themed dance party.
The event had many activities: face painting, a photo booth, a DJ, competitions, a variety of vendors, and arts + crafts presented by Academy in Motion. While seeing the clusters of people coming to take part in the craft presented by AIM, the excitement was noticeable as people referenced AIM as “The Magic School Bus” and hurried over to see what crafts it had in store for them.
Feathers in every color, glitter, paint, and googly eyes flooded the arts and craft tables outside of the bus. Fathers and their daughters were dialed in as their creativity guided them in making lively bookmarks emulating the Trolls theme to remember the night by.
When walking around and asking how this craft affected everyone’s night, fathers expressed how much of a highlight it was to be able to watch their daughters be so excited to create.
One father said, “Both of my daughters love arts and crafts, they also love Trolls so to be able to implement that within the arts and crafts was absolutely a great idea, and they really enjoyed it.”
Academy in Motion created a night to remember for dads and daughters at The Community Market, just as it does for anyone who happens to stop by the bus when it comes by their event, school, or local area. The power of the arts is clear when the bus is near, and it continues to play a vital role in bringing the community together, both on and off campus.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ACADEMY IN MOTION
Upcoming Community Events
June 27, 2022 – AIM at Lynchburg Public Library at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
July 16, 2022 – AIM at Art in the Park at Riverside Park from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (RESCHEDULED)
July 18, 2022 – AIM at Lynchburg Public Library at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
July 25, 2022 – AIM at Lynchburg Public Library at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
July 30, 2022 – AIM at CCPL Summer Reading Grand Finale at Rustburg Public Library from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
August 26 and 27, 2022 – AIM at Blackwater Music Festival at Riverfront Park (Time TBD)
