The general public will get the chance to appreciate the artistic and musical talent of Richmond County Schools students this Saturday when “Arts Alive!” will be held at the Cole Auditorium.

Artwork from the county’s schools will be displayed in the lobby of the Cole from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while student bands and choruses perform in the different holding rooms of the auditorium.

Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy Art teacher Jan Allen said the lobby of the Cole is the perfect venue to view this student artwork, made from an array of materials ranging from pencil and crayon to papier-mâché and clay.

“We have so many talented students in our schools,” Allen said. “The Arts Alive! Program allows us to showcase some of their talent in a gallery-style setting. We are very proud of our students, and enjoy watching them progress from kindergarten all the way through high school.”

She said teachers track the path of their students as they progress from school to school.

“We even have several former students who are now in college studying art, who hope to one day become art teachers themselves,” she said. “You certainly won’t find a group of harder working students or teachers anywhere.”

L.J. Bell Music teacher Don Greene is coordinating the program. He said each of the school’s choruses will put on a 10-minute performance, while bands will perform for 20 minutes.

“Arts Alive! gives our students an opportunity to showcase their talents for all of Richmond County,” Program Director, and L.J. Bell Music teacher, Don Greene said. “This day is our proclamation that the arts are truly alive and well in our county. The students work very hard all year long, preparing for different in-school, community and statewide performances.”

He noted some students spend most of their rehearsal time before or after school to perfect their individual parts.

“The music teachers of Richmond County are very passionate about their art, and this is reflected in the performances that everyone will have an opportunity to see on Saturday,” he said.

Choral performances In the Burlington Room will include Monroe Avenue at 10 a.m., Fairview Heights at 10:40 a.m., Hamlet Middle at 11:10 a.m. and Leak Street High School at 11:50 a.m.

In the Rockingham Room, choruses from Cordova and Rohanen Primary will perform at 10:20 a.m., L.J. Bell at 11 a.m. and the Ashley Chapel Recorders at 11:30 a.m.

In the Hamlet Room, choruses from Richmond Transitional School will perform at 10:10 a.m., Washington Street at 10:50 a.m., Richmond Senior at 11:20 a.m. and the West Rockingham Recorders at noon.

The Rohanen Middle Band will play the Rockingham Room at 12:35 p.m., followed by the Rockingham Middle Band at 1:35 p.m.

The Ellerbe Middle School Band will perform in the Burlington Room at 12:55 p.m., followed by the Richmond Senior Band at 1:55 p.m.

The Hamlet Middle School Band will perform in the Hamlet Room at 1:15 p.m.