MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) – Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is proud of its extensive Arts in Education portfolio of programs that reach K through college level students and has hired Shawntay Arroyo as program coordinator.  Shawntay is a recent graduate of California State University-Sacramento with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. Her special interests include editing and writing, and she is also an experienced social media coordinator.  Shawntay has been a Travel Ambassador with Reach the World providing elementary-aged children with a connection to the world demonstrating how study abroad is an accessible and attainable goal to better understand their connections to the world.  She has run a nature journaling seminar for the Yuba Water Agency as part of its Learning Science Through Art program. 

When asked about her new position, Shawntay said, "My goal as Arts in Education Coordinator is to continue the work of creating accessibility to the arts for all students in the Yuba-Sutter area. I aim to pay special attention to marginalized students of different backgrounds and experiences to ensure all voices are given a platform.”

She went on to say, “At Yuba-Sutter Arts & Culture, we are making great strides to ensure all students have equal opportunity to participate in the arts. Our programs, from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards to Poetry Out Loud, have proven effective in promoting student engagement in other areas of academics. I look forward to serving the Youth of our community and to helping them empower themselves.”

Shawntay jumped in with both feet when she first started with Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture as a volunteer.  Among her first assignments was serving as guest editor for the Spring edition of Ragged Clause, YSAC’s occasional journal featuring poetry, prose and visual arts created by local artists. In her editor’s notes, Shawntay wrote, “Art is so often seen as something frivolous and trivial; as something disposable and inefficient. When reading art, looking at art, or even creating art, we ask what is the meaning of this piece? The question we should ask is how does it make us feel? Understanding art leaves us with the perception of accomplishment, but feeling art leaves us with the knowledge of self. 

Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is proud to have Shawntay Arroyo as part of its dedicated team of staff, Board members and volunteers.  Welcome Shawntay!  To learn more about its many programs including virtual programs during the pandemic, follow Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture on Facebook or go to yubasutterarts.org.  You mail also send email to [email protected].

Yuba Sutter Arts is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide arts programming, education, advocacy, assistance and service to artists, organizations and residents of Yuba and Sutter Counties. The official agency for Yuba and Sutter of the California Arts Council, its programs include the Murals of Live Oak, Cover It! Utility Box Murals, Shakespeare Readers’ Theatre, Veterans Initiative in the Arts projects, Very Special Arts Festival, Harvest the Arts, Arts in Education, Poetry Out Loud, Arts in Corrections, Art Everywhere and many more.