Courtesy of Vermont GIA
A student-created parade is led down Main Street in Castleton, displaying their hard work from the week prior.
Saturday, July 4 at 10:30 a.m. — CASTLETON — The Vermont Governor’s Institute on the Arts celebrates its 32nd year on July 4 as it presents a student-created samba parade to the community of Castleton. The parade features giant puppets, handmade by 130 high school students from around Vermont in just one intense week leading up to the event, as well as a samba band comprised of students and staff, costumes, drums, streamers, stilts, and more!
The parade takes place on Castleton’s Main Street at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 4. The event is free, open to the public, and a great place to bring the whole family. Come early to make your own festive crown.
The Vermont Governor’s Institute on the Arts, known as GIA (www.giaofvt.com), is a two-week summer arts-enrichment program for Vermont high school students entering 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. The program is part of the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (www.giv.org), which presents eight summer institutes in different subject areas: arts, Asian cultures, current issues & youth activism, engineering, entrepreneurship, environmental science and technology, information technology and digital media, and mathematical sciences, as well as winter weekends.
Since 1984, students from around the state have gathered to create a unique and fun learning community while taking classes with experienced, professional teaching artists. GIA exists to offer students the opportunity to try something new, embrace different perspectives, engage in a unique community, and make connections with peers across the state.
The Institute strives to offer classes unlikely to appear in Vermont high schools, and each day brims with activity: classes in two artistic disciplines (chosen from classes such as dance, theater, writing, music, and visual arts), community chorus, evening performances, and chances to attend and lead workshops in many areas. Interested students can apply through their schools in February 2016. Tuition is on a sliding scale.
Students arrive at Castleton State College on June 28, and during the week learn to create giant puppets out of papier-mâché, wire, cardboard, fabric, and other found materials. They also learn samba percussion rhythms and form a fantastic drum ensemble! And on Saturday morning, they’ll take to Castleton’s Main Street with those puppets, live music, and many wild surprises. For more info, contact 802-505-9442 or arts@giv.org.
