Student artwork spanning every grade level filled the gymnasiums at Oceanside High School on March 31 as the district hosted its annual districtwide arts festival, drawing large crowds of families, students and community members.
The event, organized under the direction of Media, Fine and Performing Arts Director Andrew Frey-Gould, showcased work from students as young as five years old through high school seniors. While the festival predates his tenure, Frey-Gould said it has evolved into a more focused visual arts exhibition centered on student work.
“It was created as a festival of all of the fine and performing arts,” he explained. “What it’s turned into is an art-specific festival, so an opportunity to show the community really all the amazing work that we do, and to give the students a chance to exhibit.”
That opportunity is key, he said, noting that while the artistic process is important, presenting finished work is an essential part of arts education.
“One of the major components of any art in general is to exhibit and to showcase,” Frey-Gould said.
All schools in the district participated, including kindergarten centers, creating a wide-ranging display of artwork across mediums and skill levels. Teachers selected pieces to be featured, often choosing standout work from various projects throughout the year and ensuring a broad representation of students.
At the high school level, the exhibit included a cross-section of courses such as ceramics, sculpture, drawing and painting, photography and film. Frey-Gould said the goal was to highlight students who are excelling while representing the diversity of the district’s art program.
The festival was held in the high school’s main and auxiliary gyms, with elementary artwork displayed in the auxiliary space and secondary-level work featured in the main gym. Film and digital media projects were screened in a nearby room, allowing for a dedicated viewing area.
Setting up the event required extensive coordination.
Putting the exhibit together required months of preparation and a full day of setup. Teachers and student helpers began work in the early morning, constructing temporary display walls and mounting artwork. Materials were ordered in advance, but preparation for the festival took place throughout the school year, with teachers collecting and preserving student work for possible inclusion.
“It’s quite the undertaking,” Frey-Gould said, noting that the installation process lasted several hours, while the exhibit itself was open for a limited time before being dismantled later that day.
Despite its short duration, the festival drew significant attendance. Frey-Gould said it is one of the districts’ most popular events. Families attended to view their children’s work, often bringing extended relatives, while others came simply to appreciate the exhibit.
Music performances scheduled at intervals throughout the event also helped attract additional visitors, creating a dynamic, multidisciplinary atmosphere.
Looking ahead, Frey-Gould said he hopes to expand the festival’s format by securing a space where the exhibit could remain on display for a longer period, allowing more community members to experience the work.
Frey-Gould also emphasized the importance of arts education, calling it “a foundation of being human.” Beyond creative expression, he said, students gain problem-solving abilities, hands-on skills and a sense of belonging.
“For some students, this is what keeps them coming to school,” he said. “They find their home in the arts.”
