John Beck Elementary students got to tour a museum filled with the work of regional and national artists Friday.

And they never had to leave the school grounds.

The Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg brought the museum to the school as part of its VanGo! art museum on wheels program.

The visit was part of Fine Arts Day, a celebration of the arts at both John Beck and Lititz elementary schools. The idea behind Fine Arts Day is to acquaint students with careers in the arts, as well as art-related hobbies and special interests.

The schools hosted composers, keyboardists, painters, rug makers, photographers, dancers, theater performers, stained glass artists, guitarists and high school artists as part of the day-long celebration of the arts.

John Beck also had VanGo!, for students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade.

Developed by the Susquehanna Art Museum, the VanGo! museum on wheels got rolling back in 1992.

According to Wendy Sweigart, director of outreach education for the museum, the mission of the VanGo! program is to provide exposure to original works of art to people who might not get to see them.

Each year, Sweigart selects the artwork from about a dozen artists to be featured.

"These are original works of art, which is something the children enjoy," said Sweigart. "Not all children get to go to art museums, so this can be an early exposure to original artwork."

The 2008-2009 VanGo! bus is sponsored by Susquehanna Bank, which is based in Lititz, along with additional funding by ChekMed Systems, Mobile Rec, Capital Blue Cross, the Hall Foundation, PPL, Harrisburg University, Penn National Insurance, Marion C. Alexander Fund and Citizens Bank.

"We appreciate the funding from Susquehanna and our other sponsors in reaching out to children with this program," said Sweigart, adding that VanGo! exhibitions are held from September through July at schools all over Pennsylvania.

The bus will be back in the county in two weeks for visits in the Cocalico School District at Schoeneck Elementary on Wednesday, April 15, Reamstown Elementary on Thursday, April 16, and Adamstown Elementary on Friday, April 17.

This year's theme, "Earth, Wind, Fire & Water: Science in Art," features the artwork of regional artists Linda Billet, Milt Friedly, Eileen Goodman, Kevin Lehman, Andrew Wapinski and Tom Scullin, as well as artists from other areas, such as Julianne Swartz, Dr. Stephen Young, Susan Ziegler, Tom Holmes, John Lefelhocz, Amy Marx, Tom Mazzullo and Phyllis Purves-Smith.

"'Earth, Wind, Fire & Water' examines commonalities between artist and scientist, and shows how each approach their work in a similar manner," said Sweigart.

The students at John Beck enjoyed seeing the art, especially Billet's stained glass of green leaves and butterfly wings, Goodman's cherries and leaves, Lehman's ceramic monolith of the four seasons, and Marx's dramatic views of tornadoes sweeping the prairies.

"It's pretty cool," said sixth-grader Chase Martin, who took a look at Scullin's powerful oil painting of Arches National Park with fellow sixth-grader Marleise Emrhein.

At John Beck, Fine Arts Day included swing dancing by Alvina Kline of Encore Dance Center, and a performance by Lauren and Dean Sobon, who have directed shows at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre and Warwick High School's recent "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Laura Wash demonstrated her stained glass art, while Steve Sheppard played guitar and told of playing for Laura Bush's 44th high school reunion. Block artist Paul Wiegand demonstrated his talents and Warwick High School art students also did art projects with students.

The high school art students visited Lititz Elementary, as well, where students also learned about music with keyboardist Andy Roberts, acrylic painting with art teacher Beth Brunner, rug hooking with Annie Harlin, and digital photography with Glenn McQuaig. The day also included a performance by Ryan and Friends.