Arts Initiative | Video

Kristin Clouston | 2/1/2013

Are you more cultured than a sixth grader? Before you answer, you should know Bismarck students are exposed to a variety of the arts, before they finish elementary school. There`s a program that guarantees every elementary student in Bismarck goes to at least one fine arts event each year.

The Belle Mehus was filled with sound of opera. Members of the Bismarck-Mandan Civic Chorus gave a special performance for sixth graders.

"It`s been really fun. It`s long, but it seems really quick," said sixth grader Kennedy Delap.

Bismarck schools have a fine arts program called sips

"It`s trying to give a variety. I think the name sips was kind of just a taste of each kind of art," said BPS Fine Arts Director Shawn Oban.

Each grade attends a different type of fine arts program.

"First grade gets to see a choir; second grade goes to a play. Third grade goes to the ballet, fourth grade sees the symphony, fifth grade listens to a band," Oban said.

And sixth graders go to the opera.

"I enjoy watching their facial expressions, their ahhhhhh," Delap said.

"You know kids don`t have the opportunity now days to see live performances in all these varieties of arts, so it gives you a little sip of each one and see which one you like," Oban said.

This is the 9th year the district has offered the program.

The singers invited the students to come back and enjoy an entire performance tomorrow night.

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