Primary Academic and Creative Experiences (P.A.C.E.), is an artist-in-residence program in practice in ten Title I elementary schools in the Lafayette Parish school System. P.A.C.E. is co-directed by the Acadiana Arts Council.

Students can now see, hear, feel and expereince classroom learning as many never have before. That is what the Primary Academic and Creative Experiences (PACE) program provides for young students–active learning opportunities that come about when a teacher’s classroom instructionis supported by and expanded upon through the arts. Examples include: creating murals to tell the story of the life cycle and changing boxes into buildings for community planning. The program was created to assist schools in establishing an environment rich in the arts. PACE facilitates the establishment and development of artists’ residencies in ten elementary Title I schools for grades K-2. The residency is intended to bring together practicing artists and teachers to learn from each other while they both teach and learn form their students.

The Pelican project, though definitely growing in scope, began as a Lafayette parish public school project. Initially designed through the Title I Federal program, the pelican was created as a mascot for the PACE program.

Each PACE school received a fiberglass pelican to design. There was alot of collaborative effort between students, teachers and artists during this project. The actual design (visual images) were done by the PACE students with their artists. The work that came before, however, was done by everyone. Research, themes, writing and other language arts connections were done by classes throughout each school.

Each school began with the same blank pelican. However, each design has turned out to be as unique & different as its school, students and faculty.

These pelicans have been used in the first "bird-sightings" in the community. PACE pelicans were on display at Festival International de Louisiane at Pelican Plaza in April of this year, and were also showcased at the Artists in the Capitol day in May 2001.

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PELICANS

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