FAMILY ART FESTIVAL SERIES STARTS SATURDAY WITH AFRICA PROGRAM

At a loss for weekend fun with your kids? "Festivals, Families and the Arts" may help chase away the winter blues while teaching parents and their kids about holidays in foreign countries. The Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts will host the monthly workshops, which begins Saturday, and continues through April.

Africa's Festival of a New Leader will kick off the series Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Franklin School. Guest speaker will be Tshitenge Mutumbo from Zaire, Africa, a student at Southeast Missouri State University. Children will make large ceremonial masks. The program is geared to children ages 5 to 13.

"Using hands-on art projects, speakers and music from each featured country, the programs are designed for children and their adult companion to work together," said Beverly Strohmeyer, executive director of the arts council.

The monthly themes will include festivals from Africa, America, India, China, Japan and Italy. A native of each country will explain their festival and customs, said Strohmeyer. Items from the featured country will be displayed along with native music.

Strohmeyer said children will be assisted by adults in creating a symbol of each festival.

Although different workshops are aimed at different age levels, all are open to children ages five and up, accompanied by an adult. Admission is $1 per person. Pre-registration is required to permit purchase of art supplies. Deadline for this week's workshop has been extended to Friday.

To register, persons should contact the arts council at 334-9233.

Art instructors Brenda Seyer and Beth Thomas are coordinating the workshops. Jeanne Fohl of the University's Expanded Horizons section of the Campus Assistance Center is coordinating international students as the guest speakers. The project is co-sponsored by the Cape Girardeau School District and the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts, with financial assistance from the Missouri Arts Council.

The arts council encourages parents to register their children at least one week prior to future workshops. The Dec. 12 workshop will feature American storytelling by Tanya Merrit, and will be held at May Greene School. It is geared for children ages five through 12.

Future workshops include: India's Festival of Tools on Jan. 9 at Clippard School for children 5 to 13; China's Festival of the Lanterns on Feb. 13 at Jefferson School for ages 10-13; Japan's celebration of spring on March 13 at Washington School for ages 5-9; and Italy's Festival of the Crickets on April 17 for ages 10-13 at Alma Schrader School.