Waynesville Middle students grow in ability and confidence with new art program

May 20-Waynesville Middle School students strengthened their artistic skills and creativity under the instruction of a local artist thanks to an afterschool partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Art.

"Haywood County Public schools are a wonderful place that offers opportunities for the children in our community for performing arts, visual arts, band and beyond," said Waynesville Middle School's art teacher, Tara O'Loughlin. "This program allowed Waynesville Middle School to offer yet another way to have students grow into the well-rounded adults they will become."

The museum's Artist Innovation Mentorship program is meant to celebrate the learning that happens when artists work directly with young people. So when a representative from the museum reached out to O'Loughlin to ask if the school would be interested in participating in the program, she was immediately excited about the opportunity.

"At first the offer seemed too good to be true," said O'Loughlin. "Money to pay an assistant, for materials, snacks, a local artist and a teaching assistant. After some back and forth with information, the planning began to find a local artist and get the ball rolling."

The students who participated in the program's two sessions had a space to create art in a smaller group setting. This allowed their creativity and personalities to shine, creating art but also gaining confidence in their skills.

"Young artists learn new techniques and build their creative problem-solving skills as they work with artists in their own communities," said O'Loughlin. "They were able to connect with students from other grade levels in a meaningful way. Their confidence as artists grew."

Students worked with local artist Rumi Kakareka, a puppeteer and former docent at the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., who also works with the monthly Kid's Art Club at The Haywood County Arts Council.

In the first session, Kakareka worked with 12 students to create a mural out of paper clay, which acts like structural paint. Each student created a 7'x4' panel in low relief, which will be connected and exhibited at the NC Museum of Art later this summer.

The second session with nine students focused on creatures and figures.

"I'm a puppeteer so I have a lot of experience making different kinds of creatures," said Kakareka. "Some kids did creatures based on masks, some on small figurines."

O'Loughlin hopes to bring the program back again next school year.

"The NC Museum of Art has been doing this program in the eastern part of the state and have slowly been bringing it out to the west side of the state," said Kakareka.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 6:38 PM.