Arts Parents Encouraged to Join OFTA

It’s no secret that more than 80-percent of our students participate in athletics. But did you know that an equal number of our students participate in Overlake Arts?

Our community sees the culmination of the students’ work in performances and exhibitions throughout the year, but there’s so much more that goes into putting on the performances. That’s where Overlake Friends of the Arts (OFTA) comes in.

OFTA volunteers support Overlake arts programs in a variety of ways. Whether it’s fundraising, publicity and marketing, or actual hands on assistance for performances, OFTA makes the arts experience for our students so much richer.

The group held their first meeting on Tuesday ahead of a busy arts season.

Ann Bhat and Randi Hedin are OFTA Co-Chairs, and they encourage any parent who has a child in the arts to join them. “I want to be as involved as I can be in the areas that my children choose to be involved, and it just happens that I love the arts as much as they do,” says Bhat. “I’ve been involved for six years, and I’ve never felt exhausted, overtaxed, or overworked. I raise my hand for things that I feel I can take on, and OFTA is okay with that.”

Funding is a major part of OFTA’s work. Through flower sales and other fundraising projects, OFTA provides financial assistance for specialty workshops, productions, and other arts events. “All that fundraising goes to enhancing our arts offerings,” says Hedin. “It’s supporting our Overlake kids, and OFTA volunteers make that happen.”

Arts Chair Erin Gabriel agrees and is leading a choir group for a spring trip to Italy during Project Week that was partially funded by OFTA’s ArtFest last spring. “We are just so lucky to have that group of parents supporting our arts classes and programs,” says Gabriel. “They’re diligent about making sure each project is connected to a real need, and we always know that we have support for any special projects or experiences we try to give our students.”

Hedin and Bhat hope that more parents will join them in OFTA’s support of the arts and they encourage anyone interested to reach out to them or attend an OFTA meeting.

We’re grateful for all they do for Overlake’s Arts. Click here for our 2017-18 Arts Events calendar.