{Southeast’s Night of the Arts as an Experience}
By Emma Wood
Every day Southeast goes through the same mundane, repetitive tasks: get to school, the bells ring, go to your locker, go to class, observe the quiet steps of those in the hallway, and then repeat.
However, there is one day out of the school year that starts to break this mold, a day that shows that even the most monotonous and tedious tasks sometimes can make… art.
Night of the Arts is that day.
The moment you walk into the door, the school seems… different. The walls, usually just part of the background, become a gallery. Artwork lines the hallways; from paintings, sketches, sculptures, each piece holding a fragment of someone’s imagination. It is not just decoration; it is expression made visible. Each piece of artwork is expertly chosen, meticulously picked, and hung up with such delicacy it is purely amazing.
Art teacher Amber Schuch explains that the displays at Night of the Arts is intentional and inclusive, sharing that for each project, anywhere from ten to twenty-five pieces may be selected, with the goal of making sure every student in an art class is represented at least once. The event itself typically spans grades K–12, though this year focuses on middle and high school. “One of the most meaningful features,” she notes, “…is the senior spotlight: advanced students curate a personal display of their work from across their entire school career, showing growth from elementary sketches to their most recent creations.”
But beyond the visual beauty, Night of the Arts serves a deeper purpose. “Getting art out in the community is always good,” Schuch says, noting that the event helps break the misconception that artistic ability is something people are simply born with or have to train super hard to gain. More importantly, it gives students a moment of recognition. Hearing someone stop and admire their work, realizing it is their own, creates a sense of pride that cannot be replicated in the classroom. At the same time, the event strengthens community support, something essential for keeping art programs alive and valued within schools. With the recent dropping of certain art programs throughout schools, community respect and understanding are essential now more than ever.
There are more than just the physical and creative arts; there are the musical arts as well. As the evening begins, the soundscape shifts. The distant tuning of instruments echoes through the school, blending with the low murmur of conversation. Students from elementary school to high school prepare to perform. There is something powerful about that range, so many ages, all connected by the same act of creating. Each grade at different points in their choral and musician journey… all different voices, or different tones behind each instrument.
It is a cacophony of sounds, a blend of art, an experience that nobody should miss. That is what Night of the Arts is. The performances themselves feel like a conversation without words. Choir voices rise and fall together, filling the space with something almost tangible. The bands follow, each note precise yet alive, carrying energy through the room. And as you walk away from the music, from the liveliness of the gym, or the fantastic spaghetti they serve in the auditorium, your eyes and senses are bombarded with amazing artwork lining all the halls and display cases.
For many parents, this experience is just as meaningful as it is for the students. Nicole Root, whose daughter participates in choir, shared that while she loves watching her daughter perform, her favorite part of the evening is actually the band, drawn to the energy and power of the instrumental performances. Robin Tittle, who is involved with the art department and has a daughter in art club, finds herself captivated by the interactive and detailed displays, especially the 3D candy bags and the live sketch pieces that invite viewers to guess the identity of the subject. These moments of curiosity and engagement turn the evening into something more than observation: it becomes participation.
Throughout the night, all your senses begin to interplay. Dinner is something you can taste. You can smell the food, the perfumes, the distinct smell of paint and clay as you walk into the art room. You can hear all the amazing music and the blending of notes. You can see all the colors and vibrancy along the halls. And you will experience art that is so palpable you could touch it. That is the point of Night of the Arts. To show people that the arts are essential to humanity, that it is the culmination of all your human senses, a gathering of everything you believe in all at once.
What makes the Night of the Arts special is not just the talent on display, though there is plenty of it. It is the way the entire school transforms. Creativity is no longer confined to a classroom or a stage, it fills every corner, every hallway, every conversation.
For one night, the arts are not just something we study in school, in an unvaried, mind-numbing way. They are something we live, something we sense, and something we find essential to our wellbeing as a member in our community.
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