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Greetings!
We had a great first year at the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. Please take a moment to recap the whirlwind of events that we had in 2010!
Did you know? On average, Louisiana schools have a budget of less than 50¢ per child per year for art supplies? Many students receive no arts learning in their school. Our schools deserve better and must change!
When the arts are taught in school and particularly when they are integrated into core subjects, studies show that:
1. Academics improve
2. Discipline problems are reduced
3. Attendance increases
4. Graduation rates soar
We need your help to continue our efforts in 2011. Please join us in continuing to support youth development through the arts!
| 2010 Art Contest Winners |
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The first year of the GRFA art contest was a resounding success! We received over 300 entries from talented students from across the state of Louisiana. Ultimately, we awarded over $35,000 in scholarships and art supplies last year.
Congratulations to Sean Hicks from Hackberry, Louisiana! Sean was our 1st place winner of a $5,000 scholarship. He is currently enrolled at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA.
GRFA will expand the art contest in 2011 by adding a high school junior category along with our high school seniors. The award total for the 2011 art contest will increase to $45,000!
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| Launch of George's Art Closet |
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Thank you to New Orleans College Prep (NOCP) for hosting the launch of George's Art Closet and accepting the first awarded art supply kit. We enjoyed painting with George Rodrigue and the NOCP students!
This year, we will donate art supplies to qualifying schools who applied from across Louisiana. Schools will receive a one-year art supply kit valued at $2,000. These kits are designed to provide educators and students with the tools they need to incorporate the arts into their schools.
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| Print Donation Program |
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We had another great year of our Print Donation Program. We launched our new print "The Three Amigos" exclusively available through the foundation. Ultimately, we helped hundreds of non-profits across the country raise hundreds of thousands of dollars!
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| New Interactive Website |
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GRFA is excited to announce the launch of our new, interactive website designed to highlight GRFA programs, advocate for the arts for ALL students, and provide resources for educators. In addition to the latest updates on the Art Contest, George's Art Closet and GRFA events, teachers will find background information, lesson plans and classroom resources to help them incorporate the art of George Rodrigue into their classrooms.
We encourage everyone to share their completed projects by uploading photos and descriptions to the Student Gallery and utilize the Discussion Forum to ask questions, discuss arts integration and share success stories. The website will be an ongoing project with new additions regularly so check back often and let us know how the arts are impacting the lives of students in your school or city!
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Thank You for Your Support! |
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A message from George Rodrigue:
"First and foremost, we want to thank you for supporting my foundation. The only way that we can reverse the trend of arts education funding cuts is through a grassroots movement. We all must be informed advocates for the arts in education.
Otherwise, governments and school districts will continue to blindly cut funding because no one is speaking out. Please, continue to support us and we will ensure that the arts remain a significant part in the development of our youth.
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