Needham Art in Bloom receives award

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Needham’s Art in Bloom, celebrating its ninth year exhibiting Needham High School student artwork with floral interpretations by the Beth Shalom Garden Club members and participants from the Needham and Kalmia Garden Clubs, was recently honored with an Exemplary Project Award from the Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education.

The Foundation states that this competitive award is designed to recognize excellence, expertise, and demonstrable achievement in education. Criteria for this award corresponds closely to the Foundation’s belief that educators play a vital role in society supporting young people’s growth and preparing them to be adaptable, flexible, creative, and responsive to future societal changes. In addition, it emphasizes the importance that an exemplary project must have the potential for other school districts and community partners to adapt or replicate it.

Sue Kaplan and Allison Shapiro, Co-Chairs of Needham’s Art in Bloom are thrilled that as a recipient of this national award, the Goldin Foundation recognizes “our event as a creative and innovative program which continues to make valuable contributions and have a positive impact on students, teachers, garden club members, and the broader community.”

As a result of this award, their exemplary project can be shared with schools and communities throughout the United States and other locations. For more information about the Foundation and Needham’s Art in Bloom, visit http://goldinfoundation.org/NeedhamArtinBloom.htm.

The entire high school Fine Arts Department Faculty, with the leadership of art teachers Shireen Yadollahpour and Kate LeBarge, tirelessly commit their time to showcase the students developing skills. The Department mindfully focuses on each student’s individual needs and talents while fostering self-esteem and encouraging realization of individual potential. Yadollahpour has acted as a faculty liaison since Needham’s Art in Bloom’s 2009 inception. LeBarge joined Yadollahpour in organizing logistics three years ago in 2014. Last year, over 2,800 people came to the weekend long event at the Needham Library.

Needham’s Art in Bloom is a multi-generational event that reaches out to the entire Needham community and the greater Boston area. It will take place at the Needham Public Library on Saturday, March 4, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sunday, March 5, from 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.