Austin Bowyer and Lucas Baston were nibbling their lunches in the upper reaches of the bleachers in Bethany Lutheran College’s gymnasium.

Recently returned from their morning sessions at the Fine Arts Conference, Bowyer showed off his origami fish — which doubled as a samurai’s hat. He and Baston shared their disappointment about having to be lowly pawns in their morning game of human chess. And they discussed the possibilities awaiting them at their afternoon seminar: Theater Games.

And even though both admit they like school, it was clear the fifth annual Fine Arts Conference, sponsored and organized by the South Central Service Cooperative, was more than just a day out of the classroom.

“I really do like school,” Bowyer said. “But this is pretty fun.”

Baston agreed, nodding his head seriously.

“School is OK. But I’d rather do this.”

The reality, however, is that such opportunities are rare.

With standardized testing receiving so much attention, funding for fine arts programs often pales in comparison to funding for core curriculum areas. And even though studies repeatedly show involvement in fine arts programs increases proficiency in other subject areas, schools don’t often have the space or resources for quality classes.

In the Mankato Area School District, several elementary schools already have placed art and music programs on a cart because of space restrictions. And some area schools, especially those in rural areas, have had to eliminate some programs entirely.

Bridget Serig, academic program coordinator for the service co-op, said the mission of the conference is to give students those opportunities with art they may not otherwise experience.

“This is my favorite conference,” said Serig, who organizes such events for SCSC, “because kids who love fine arts are kids who love life.”

The instructors were all college professors, business owners or professionals in their field of expertise. Seminars at the conference included dance, ballet, guitar, drawing, Chinese watercolor and beadmaking, among many others. About 300 students attended the conference with some coming from as far as United South Central and Belle Plaine.

Joanne Milloy, who is an employee at Michael’s, taught a class on making handmade greeting cards.

Mary Smith, who runs Mary’s Flowers in St. Peter, taught floral arrangement. She gave kids pine boughs, mums and limonium — as well as a Stargazer lily for a centerpiece — and taught students how to make their own New Year’s baskets.

“I cannot believe how talented these kids are,” Smith said.