With the increasing number of public schools having to make cuts in their education programs it seems they are at the expense of our children's own quest for knowledge and understanding. It appears that art education is often where the cuts are made.

In response to those cuts, a local artist who works at a major network television station has decided to help toward the cause for more and better art education. He is a professional artist with 6 Emmy awards, 3 national awards and 1 international award for his work in the field of Art for television.

Jim Peters has recently opened what is called "LightHouse Arts Academy" at 43 North Main Street in Brighton, Colorado. Jim started teaching drawing and painting in September of 2006 and is on his second semester for kids from 8 to 13 years of age.

The idea actually came about by some home school Moms who when faced with the closing of an Art school in south Denver, approached Jim to see if he would be willing to teach their children about art and how to create it. Jim hesitated at first, but when approached for the second time by these ever-persistent Moms, he decided to tackle the project.

He researched some programs at select schools in the east, and well, the rest is history. Jim is now in his second semester teaching kids from the surrounding area of Brighton. He went from 4 students to 11 students inside one semester. He has currently begun to teach another class in addition to his Friday class which meets for two hours every Tuesday night from 6 to 8pm.

When asked what the motivation for teaching kids was, Jim responded with the experience that he had in the first few months of teaching. "When I give the kids an assignment during our sessions and see the passion that fills the room, I see what I have thrived on for so many years while creating my own pieces. I see the passion for creativity duplicated in a young and pliable heart and mind. And I see the satisfaction that comes from being creative. It's a true blessing to pass on the gift of creativity. My hope is that what I'm doing can really make a difference in their lives."

As cited on Jim's website ( http://www.jimpeters-portraitart.com/art) recent studies on school performance and children's psychological development support the scientific basis for the promotion of art and underscore the importance of art to inspire children's imagination and creativity. New imaging technologies allow researchers to see inside the brain and witness the physiological impact of experience on brain activity and development. As a result, it is now known that brain development of children is sensitive to artistic stimulation and that these influences may be long lasting. Research shows that during childhood, billions of synapses or connections between neurons are being developed that lay the creative and communications groundwork for future learning. Consequently, if the arts are ignored or repressed in childhood, a unique opportunity is lost.

In the studio there is what's called "Parents Corner" where parents can hang out while class is in session. It has a glass window to the studio. The parents can sit undisturbed while watching their children create. Jim recalls one parent asking him how he keeps the kids so directed for two solid hours. His response, "I think it's just the excitement that they have for being creative and expressing the thoughts and ideals within themselves. And it's fun."