Grove City College is proud to host the 27th annual Very Special Art Exhibit from March 29 to April 16 in the gallery of the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus. The exhibit, featuring the artwork of special needs children, is sponsored by the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV.

Gallery hours for the show are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. A reception for the student artists will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 10 and feature an appearance by Iceberg, the Pittsburgh Penguins mascot.

The exhibit has grown from 30 students in 1989 to over 1,000 students participating today. Very Special Arts showcases artwork from kindergarten through 12th grade students from 27 school districts in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

“As the gallery director at Grove City College I am excited when this exhibit comes to the gallery. It’s uplifting and full of energy,” Kathy Rhoades, assistant professor of art at Grove City College said. “When this exhibit is up it just feels joyful. It’s full of life. The Intermediate Unit does a fantastic job of displaying the artwork and it is well worth the trip out to see it.”

Artwork includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, fiber art and ceramics. All artwork is juried and is included in one three categories – Juror’s Choice, Honorable Mention or Group Projects.

Very Special Arts is an international program founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith as an affiliate of the educational programs of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Washington, D.C. The program is designed to give special needs children and adults the opportunity to develop and showcase their creative abilities. Its success is based on the principle that the arts are a universal and essential language that challenges people to look beyond themselves and celebrate their diversity by building bridges across cultures and through generations.

The exhibit is sponsored by Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, The Citrone Fund, and Erie Insurance.