At St. Louis' American Arts Experience, Introducing Children to the Arts Has Never Been This Much Fun

St. Louis is known as a baseball town. We’re also renowned for our gooey butter cake and recognized worldwide for the Gateway Arch.

But in our theaters, museums and dance venues, the sounds and sights of our diverse arts community truly reflect our history and celebrate the talents of our neighbors. We’re lucky to have a thriving arts scene that rivals that of larger cities, but as residents, we’re often unaware of all St. Louis can offer both us and the future artists we’re raising.

Thankfully, every autumn, arts organizations across the city team up to present American Arts Experience – St. Louis, the area’s largest arts event. For 17 days in October, more than 40 organizations will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the collaboration with an exciting lineup of theatre, dance, music, art, and literature productions, many of which are ideal for introducing kids to – and reminding ourselves about – the options for art in our region.

Celebrating St. Louis, honoring America

Each production spotlights the work of American artists, not only from St. Louis but from around the nation. Whether it’s the thunderous sounds of the St. Louis Symphony roaring through the aisles of Powell Hall or an engaging letterpress tour and demonstration at Central Print, all of the work focuses on the same theme of American talent.

Said Paul Reuter, Chairman of the Festival Advisory Board and Executive Director of The Sheldon, “We wanted a unifying theme that all organizations could focus on, but that would still offer plenty of range. There’s so much diversity and breadth in the American arts that it opens up a world of new experiences for our guests.”

This year, arts organizations of all sizes, in locations from Cherokee Street to North County and Southern Illinois to West County, are participating in this year’s event, giving everyone a number of performances and exhibits to choose from, no matter what genre you’re interested in.

While many events, like the Symphony’s performance of An American in Paris or the Lit in the Lou Book Festival in University City, appeal to all members of the family, the American Arts Experience has a number of shows dedicated to the youngest arts fans:

• Talkin’ Trash, October 10, 7 p.m. and October 11, 2 p.m., Clayton High School Auditorium, Free – Based on the true story a St. Louis preteen who started his own recycling company, this world premiere by Metro Theater Company highlights his relationship with an elderly neighbor and the memories and friendship that are stirred up as they sift through her belongings.
• wUNDERland, October 2 and 9, 7 p.m.; October 3 and 10, 5 p.m.; October 4 and 11, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., COCA, $16-$20 – The Center of Creative Arts puts a hip-hop twist on Alice’s adventures down the rabbit hole. When the Red King grabs control of Wonderland, it’s up to Alex, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat to take back what is theirs.
• St. Louis Children’s Choirs Family & Friends Concert, October 7, 7 p.m. and October 11, 3 p.m., $10 – Talented kids from across the metropolitan area will electrify fans with their mix of American favorites along with international folk, sacred and new music.
• The Magic House Visiting Artists Series, October 10, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., October 11, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., $10 – Throughout the year, The Magic House has welcomed artists who shares their expertise and talents with museum guests. For the American Arts Experience, mask artisan Scott Schoonover will help youngsters create masks they can take home.
• Circus Harmony Series, City Museum and Union Station, Various Dates, Free – The city’s best circus acts aren’t confined to a big top – but featured at two of St. Louis’ most beloved locations. Watch in awe as youth circus performers sail above the air on a trapeze, flip, jump and fly their way through acrobatics routines, and show off their juggling and balancing skills.

By introducing youngsters to the variety of arts in St. Louis, Reuter hopes it will spark an interest that will only continue to grow as they do and help fuel the arts community in the future.

“The arts inspire creativity, and in the changing world we live in, kids need that creativity to be able to adapt,” he said. “There’s lots of wonderful research that shows participating in the arts not only makes a person whole – it’s a part of our human spirit that needs to be developed – but it builds the skills we need to succeed every day of our lives. Nothing beats experiencing dance, music or art live when you’re young.”

American Arts Experience – St. Louis lasts October 2 – 18, 2015. Prices and venues vary, but a full schedule and performance descriptions are available at www.americanartsstl.org. You can also get the latest updates and deals by following the American Arts Experience at www.facebook.com/AmericanArtsSTL or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AmericanArtsSTL