WASHINGTON, May 19 VSAarts-MetLife-grant
WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- VSA arts and MetLife Foundation announced the recipients of the 2008 "Arts Connect All" award today. Ten arts organizations will receive grants of $15,000 for programs that enhance accessible education in public schools by creating learning environments where young people with and without disabilities learn side-by-side.
The "Arts Connect All" program, now in its fourth year, recognizes arts organizations throughout the country that focus on the development of students' social, cognitive, and artistic skills through arts learning. Grant recipients must apply each year, and Luna Kids Dance (Berkeley, California) and STAGES ST. LOUIS (St. Louis, Missouri) have received awards for three years in a row, providing opportunities to the communities that would not otherwise exist. Luna Kids Dance has given important dance training to classroom teachers who have in turn used movement to teach young children self-control, body awareness, body part differentiation, and tempo. STAGES ST. LOUIS has been able to provide otherwise unavailable performing arts education opportunities for children of all levels of abilities in the St. Louis area, expanding their creativity and imaginations, developing their motor skills, and expanding their verbal communication skills.
"'Arts Connect All' spurs arts organizations to provide theater, dance, and writing opportunities for students with and without disabilities," said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. "I am delighted that the continued partnership with MetLife has made it possible for these groups to focus on helping all students learn through the arts."
"MetLife Foundation is committed to making the arts available for everyone," stated Sibyl Jacobson, president & CEO of MetLife Foundation. "The arts can both inspire and teach. We are proud to support this work and the organizations working with the public schools."
Organizations can receive the grant an indefinite number of times, but they may only receive it a total of three years for the same programming. This year, there are six first-time grant winners -- Bethune Theatredanse, CENTERSTAGE, Hammonds House Museum, Illusion Theater & School, Jack Straw Productions, and Malashock Dance. Oregon Cultural Access and Shakespeare at Play received funding for a second year to continue their work. Luna Kids Dance and STAGES ST. LOUIS received funding for a third year.
The 2008 winners are:
First-year recipients
Bethune Theatredanse (Los Angeles, California), for Infinite Dreams, a dance and dramatic arts program for elementary school students that provides in-service training for instructors and produces community performances.
CENTERSTAGE (Baltimore, Maryland), for its Playwrights in Schools program for high school students, which builds literacy skills through study of dramatic literature and writing dramatic works.
Hammonds House Museum (Atlanta, Georgia), for Think With Your Senses/Feel With Your Mind, a program where high school and elementary school students create multi-sensory artworks that are displayed as public installations.
Illusion Theater & School (Minneapolis, Minnesota), for Arts RAP, a residency program in which South High School students build social and academic skills through a range of theater arts experiences, from script writing to staged performance.
Jack Straw Productions (Seattle, Washington), for Sighted Blind Arts workshops, in which high school students learn to combine movement, sound, audio description, and felt sensations creatively into an inclusive performance.
Malashock Dance (San Diego, California), for the Liberty School project, which offers dance and movement activities to reinforce academic learning themes for elementary and middle school students.
Second-year recipients
Oregon Cultural Access (Portland, Oregon), for Inclusive Arts Vibe, a dance and drama program for youth that builds artistic skills and introduces the concepts of disability pride and culture.
Shakespeare at Play (Burbank, California), for Shakespeare Enabled, a series of professional development workshops, in-school residencies, and performances that make the Bard's works accessible to all.
Third-year recipients
Luna Kids Dance (Berkeley, California), for Tilden Elementary Integrated Creative Dance, which uses dance to build respect for diversity and encourage understanding among cultures.
STAGES ST. LOUIS (Chesterfield, Missouri), for Access the Arts, a musical theater program that develops students' creativity and self-confidence, as well as performance and communication skills.
About VSA arts
VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in 55 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information visit www.vsarts.org.
About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants are made to support health, educational, civic, and cultural organizations and programs throughout the country. Recognizing the vital role the arts play in building communities and educating young people, MetLife Foundation contributes to the arts and culture by focusing on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broader audiences through inclusive programming and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its Web site at www.metlife.org.
SOURCE VSA arts
