Youth Art Series celebrates arts education with second annual festival next week

Local organizations dedicated to providing arts opportunities to keiki and teens are coming together for the second annual Youth Art Series Festival in Hilo.

Hosted by the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, the Youth Art Series Festival celebrates the importance of arts education in Kalākaua Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 14.

Hilo High School Art Club, Hawai‘i Handweavers’ Hui, Friends of the Palace Theatre, and more than a dozen other organizations will have art activities available at their information booths throughout the event.

HAAStile, a teen rock band from Hawai‘i Academy of Arts and Sciences, will perform live, along with performances from Big Wave Dance Academy, Aloha Teen Theatre, N2 Dance, Hawai‘i’s Volcano Circus, Prince Dance Institute, and Kona Dance and Performing Arts.

“Last year we had around 300 visitors to the first Youth Art Series Festival,” said Kellie Miyazu, youth education director at East Hawai‘i Cultural Center. “There was a lot of positive feedback from visitors and from the organizations who were able to network with each other and the community. We’re expecting an even more successful festival this year.”

Visitors are also encouraged to stop by the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center patio across the street to learn more about the nonprofit’s vision for the year and how community support helps keep the unique gallery and keiki programs accessible to all.

The East Hawai‘i Cultural Center gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center website.