Since 1996, Barefoot Productions DBA Creative Impressions has served over 800 youth. Through weekly sessions, members (ages 8-18) receive instruction in music theory, sight-singing, performance technique and other fundamentals in the music discipline, while providing group and individual mentorship. There are currently 36 youth enrolled throughout Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie and Burke counties.

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As a valued organization in the community, CI provides a supplementary and complementary artistic education to youth – in particular, underserved youth. Major annual programming and productions include our Summer Creative Arts Academy, our Behold the Star production in December, and College Scholarship/Cultural Expansion Tour. These tours have motivated many youth to attend college and provided opportunities to audition and receive music scholarships. Performance highlights including President George W. Bush's first National Youth Summit in Washington, DC in 2002, and the National Youth Sports Program Conference at Disney World, Orlando, FL in 2003, have been impactful.

 

In 2015 and 2016, CI participated in Coca-Cola's Pay-It-Forward closing event in Atlanta, GA. The organization also performs locally and collaborates with other community arts groups to include the Augusta Chorale, Augusta Choral Society and Augusta Symphony. Through these and other activities, CI has nurtured and mentored many professional musicians and ambassadors who impact the art world and society at large. Some notable Creative Impressions alumni include Timothy Miller, Tiffany Hobbs, Jamal Moore and our own Artistic Director, Trey McLaughlin.

 

Many of our students have served in the armed forces, become attorneys, veterinarians, physicians and educators. Whatever the path they choose, they continue to pursue their passion in the arts, understanding the impact of the arts on our communities.