Attending a dance festival with my coworker (I teach music, she teaches dance) was eye-opening. We had brought our elementary school song and dance ensemble to a district-sponsored festival, where all of the dance students from the district meet, take classes from professionals, audition for the gifted and talented program, and later in the week, perform for one another. It was amazing to see these kids (two of which are my own children) get up there and express themselves through movement.

During a break, one of my students said, “I wish every day at school was like this!” This statement truly woke me up. Why wasn’t every day like this? What could I do to change that?

I realized that I can ensure that my children and students have access to and a basic understanding of the many ways humans have engaged in expression in the past and present so that they have the freedom and power to do that themselves, now and in the future.

Organizations throughout Savannah support this idea

 There are state-level programs like Super Museum Sunday, which provides free admission to museums throughout Georgia, and the Georgia Council for the Arts, which supports the arts in diverse communities.

The city also sponsors programs like ACE, which increases access to arts and culture, and the Savannah Cultural Arts Center, which provides performance and gallery space to artists.

Nonprofits like ARTS Southeast and the Savannah Arts Association provide artistic spaces, artist-in-residency programs, and educational programs throughout Savannah. SCAD University engages with the community through its SCAD Serve program. Additionally, the Savannah Music Festival, a concert series beginning in March featuring music artists from around the globe, offers free admission to students who attend SCCPSS schools (along with their adult chaperones).

All of these beneficial programs share one thing in common: the human art of collaboration. When we acknowledge that something in our society is worth our time and effort, we can see past our differences to bring forth creation and expression.

Whether you live in or near Savannah, or you’re just visiting, take advantage of the city’s many opportunities to enjoy and express the life part of humanity.

Melanie Nolan Ed.D.

Savannah Music Festival

Thursday, March 27 to Saturday, April 12
Assorted locations in Savannah

A fantastic annual event that’s been described as “One of the Southeast’s most approachable festivals…

Soup it Up for Loop it Up

Spend a night among the stars at this year’s Soup It Up for Loop It Up!

Loop it Up Savannah is celebrating a whole decade of as an independent organization on Saturday, March 8, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Kehoe Iron Works Building at Trustee’s Garden, 660 E. Broughton Street in
Downtown Savannah. Loop it Up supports arts-integrated learning programs for children throughout Savannah.

SCAD’s Sidewalk Arts Festival 2025

Claim your concrete canvas at the 44th annual SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival. During this treasured tradition, SCAD students, alumni, and local high school students transform Savannah’s historic Forsyth Park into a chromatic landscape of chalk compositions for the chance to win coveted prizes.

Oscars & Cigars - Hosted by #HamptonsHavana, Sun 3-2