Thousands of Hockley County students are gaining access to theater performances, educational programs, and other arts experiences through F.R.A.M.E., a community-driven initiative working to expand arts opportunities for rural kids.
The Flatland Rural Arts Mentorship and Education Collective Impact Project, or F.R.A.M.E., launched in May 2024 as a collaborative effort to address the lack of access to arts education for students across Hockley County. The Wallace Theater helps drive and implement the initiative alongside other community stakeholders.
Rural students often have fewer opportunities to participate in arts education and experiences than their urban peers, according to the State of Arts Report from the Texas Cultural Trust. F.R.A.M.E. works to close that gap by connecting Hockley County students with programs and experiences that may otherwise be unavailable locally.
Those opportunities include discounted field trips to professional theater productions, classical music performances, history programs, and other educational events. The Wallace also provides free theater camp opportunities for students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.
Between 30 and 50 students typically participate in theater camp each summer, with about one-third needing at least partial financial assistance. Much of that assistance is made possible through donations from individuals in the community.
The Wallace hosted approximately 2,500 students through its educational programs last year and already has more than 2,100 students reserved for performances this year.
Organizers hope to eventually be able to reach all 4,500 students across Hockley County. Students from all six Hockley County school districts have participated in the programs, while the initiative has also expanded opportunities for educators. This past summer, 40 Hockley County educators participated in a Creative Teaching Workshop at the Wallace.
The impact of these experiences can extend beyond just inside the theater. A previous performance of Cornerstones of Courage left Levelland students discussing the production well after they returned from school. Cornerstones of Courage, which will return to the Wallace this year, tells the story of Marine Staff Sgt. William J. Bordelon and his actions during the Battle of Tawara while also exploring his family’s experiences afterward.
Students participated in a question-and-answer session following the previous performance.
Wallace representatives said many students were visibly emotional during the performance and engaged throughout the question-and-answer session. The Levelland Middle School principal later told the organization that students continued discussing the performance throughout the school day, despite teachers often finding it difficult to generate the same level of engagement with history in the classroom.
According to JT Seymore, director of development and educational programs at the Wallace, Levelland ISD Superintendent Dr. Don Heseman also highlighted the impact of the programs during a recent school board meeting.
“If you were to ask students what their top 10 favorite experiences were at school last year, I bet at least two or three of their answers would have happened at the Wallace,” Heseman said.
The following day, more than 600 Levelland ISD students signed up for upcoming performances at the Wallace.
The Wallace’s educational efforts also extend beyond live performances. Its annual Pop-Up museum uses artifacts, stories, and other pieces of local history to help connect Hockley County’s past with younger generations.
Last year’s museum featured a collection of women’s fashion and used changes in clothing to explore broader periods of American history. This year’s exhibit, “Locally Made,” featured crafts, tools, and heirlooms handmade by community members over the past 100 years.
Many of the educational opportunities offered through the Wallace rely on support from local donors and foundations, including financial assistance for theater camps and discounted student field trips.
According to JT Seymore, every $20 donated can help provide a field trip for one student. As F.R.A.M.E. continues to grow, organizers hope that community support will help the initiative move closer to reaching every student in Hockley County.
The Wallace Theater is willing to work with anyone who wants to help raise the tide in Levelland and create more opportunities for local students. More information about our programs and ways to get involved can be found at wallacetheater.com.