NORWICH – Since 2008, budding student artists across Chenango County have contributed more than 20,000 pieces of artwork to the online art gallery that is Artsonia, drawing a staggering 220,000 visitors to the website from across the globe.

According to Perry Browne Elementary art teacher Kathy Pfeifer, Artsonia is “basically a kids’ art museum,” one that not only provides students an artistic outlet, but allows them to create their very own art portfolio throughout their years in school. On Monday, Pfeifer gave a brief presentation on the online resource during the Norwich City School District’s Board of Education meeting.

Pfeifer called Artsonia a “great way” for parents to share their child’s artwork with friends and relatives, and a wonderful tool for art teachers countrywide to communicate ideas and lesson plans. Most students, she added, leave Perry Browne with approximately 35 pieces of art displayed at artsonia.com and – at the end of the year – that artwork becomes the student’s property. It’s a great way for aspiring artists to keep track of their work and begin building a college portfolio if they’re considering a future in art, she added.