This program focuses on imagination and the visual arts as a core
element of learning, creative development, and critical thinking skills. All
teachers involved in the program are encouraged to let their students
become the "dream-makers" and graphically depict their own thoughts
and vision. This 17-year Imagination Celebration program has been
a model for other DREAMAKERS programs across the country.
Thousands of Fort Worth elementary and middle school students
create DREAMAKERS art in their classrooms each year.
The program, based on an annual theme, is connected to
interdisciplinary learning in the classroom in the arts, humanities,
sciences and to literacy. The program is launched with a teacher
training series annually, in which teachers learn to connect the creation of
art to all areas of learning in the classroom. Students create art based on the theme
and each student is required to create a "DREAM STATEMENT" expressing the story of their art.
Schools host on site exhibitions and each school is asked to select "Honorees" to participate in the citywide
DREAMAKERS exhibition and award ceremony. The parent company of CRAYOLA, BINNEY AND SMITH provides partial
underwriting to Imagination Celebration for this program, as well as, in-kind gifts of art materials for classrooms, beautiful
curriculum guides for teachers, and special gifts for the "honorees". A special reception and exhibition of student work is held
in the spring of each year at a community cultural institution. The Fort Worth Independent School district's art department is a
co-sponsor in the production and presentation of this program, which is open to all students from kindergarten through 8th.