KID smART celebrates the end of school year with free arts festival

Written By Alicia Vial

BEST FEST offers families motivation and education

NEW ORLEANS – On Tuesday, May 5, KID smART will host its annual BEST FEST—an end-of-school-year celebration featuring joyful art experiences led by KID smART Teaching Artists, interactive workshops, a student art showcase and live performances.

BEST FEST features arts activities, interactive workshops and live performances for children and families to enjoy for free. This year’s event will take place on Give NOLA Day at the newly opened KID smART Center for Arts & Education at 2533 Columbus St., from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event kicks off with live music from Duo Louisiane, featuring Glenn Hartman and Washboard Chaz, and will feature a performance from students from ISL Westbank. The young artist exhibit celebrates art made by students aged 6–18.

“BEST FEST is our way of celebrating the end of the school year and showcasing the work of our amazing students and schools throughout the year,” said Elise Gallinot Goldman, executive director of KID smART.  “We are looking forward to an afternoon of family, fun and the arts.

Festival goers will have the opportunity to meet this year's KID smART’s Arts Integration Specialists, Teaching Artists, and Creative School Partners. Food trucks will be on site with items for purchase, and children in attendance will each get a complimentary snowball.

This year’s BEST FEST is supported by The Sunstone Project and the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation (NOTCF). For more information about BEST FEST, visit kidsmart.org/best-fest.

Founded in 1999, KID smART provides public school students with greater access to arts-rich education. In its 27-year history, KID smART has served more than 70,000 students and 15,000 teachers in schools throughout New Orleans and beyond. With the belief that the power of the arts should be available to all children, KID smART works within public schools to reach underserved children with the most to gain from an arts-rich, social-emotional education.  

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About KID smART:
Since 1999, KID smART has partnered with schools, artists, and cultural institutions to bring arts-integrated curriculum and art experiences to children and educators. Through in-school artist residencies, teacher professional development, community art events, and art workshops and classes at the KID smART Center for Arts & Education, KID smART inspires students’ confidence, persistence, comprehension, and joy of learning. KID smART believes that creativity is intrinsic to learning, that art is integral to education, and that the arts empower all children to access their full academic, creative, and personal potential.‍ ‍

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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