Many thanks to all of our donors-old and new-who helped us surpass our goal for individual gifts by the close of our fiscal year in June. With your gifts, we exceeded the ambitious goal set by our board of directors, and secure the $250 match. In fact, we surpassed our goal of $16,500 by almost 10%.
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A mural by Augustina Droze. Created in partnership with Ayudashilp and the South Central Government Center, India.
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I am also thrilled to announce that over the summer, we were notified that our application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) via its Our Town grant program was successful! One of only three organizations in the state to receive this funding, YA-WNY was awarded $75,000 to support our spectacular upcoming project, "Celebrating the Immigrant and Refugee Experience-Yesterday and Today."
To qualify for and receive this funding, Young Audiences, in collaboration with major partners the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Public Schools, Buffalo State College and its Community Academic Center, and Lorigo's Meating Place, designed a program which will be engaging children in the arts to document the West Side's diverse legacy. The work the children do with artists and educators will be brought into the centerpiece of the project, a large-scale mural, executed by Augustina Droze, renowned muralist and public artist. Learn more here.
More big and happy news includes the fact that in 2012-13, our Western New York affiliate of Young Audiences celebrates its 50th anniversary! We we have kicked it off with a summer full of creative family programs at Canalside, M&T Plaza Series, First Fridays at the Albright Knox, and The Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts-check the schedule here.
We're now looking forward to additional celebrations-for adults-there's our October 2012 event (details in the next paragraph). We are also beyond delighted to announce that in March 2013 we will celebrate our 50-year legacy with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, when world-renowned soprano Kathleen Battle joins them to perform "Underground Railroad: An Evening of Spirituals." We'll keep you posted on additional celebration events spanning the year.
Our fall fundraising event was a tremendous success in its inaugural year, and we are pleased to continue the tradition. Taking place this year on Wednesday, October 10, the second annual "Young Audiences Goes To Town" gala and cocktail party is a fun evening, filled with performance, honors, prizes, a silent auction and delicious food and drink-join us!
This year LehrerDance and Nels Ross will perform, and we'll honor Marvin Askew, executive director, Buffalo City Ballet; Elizabeth Licata, editor in chief, Buffalo Spree magazine; Gilda and Jerry Raiken, long-time Young Audiences board members; and Leslie Zemsky, director of fun, Larkin Square and president, board of directors, Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. Full details available here.
I am also excited to let you know that our new strategic plan has launched. The plan includes long-term objectives for our innovative organization all the way through 2016. As our role continues to be shaped by the demands of changing times, the plan, with its clearly stated goals, will be our guide.
After two years of study, planning and hard work, we are thrilled to have this strategy in place and begin the work of fulfilling it. Thank you to those who participated. It is truly gratifying to be able to continue our mission with a strong outline. More details available here.
Witnessing the challenges that the arts, and many related non-profits are facing, it is more important than ever that the arts are fostered and presented professionally, and over sustained periods to our young people. It is through partnerships and collaborations with a wide range of artists, organizations and supporters that we are able to evolve to meet the needs of our various constituents.
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Students at Waterfront School working with Brill & Baczkowski during the Ancient Voices residency.
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This is a great time; heading in to a new school year. Our scheduled programs for the fall in schools and community centers include live music and dance workshops-drumming, strumming, toe-tapping, and movement are just a few of the ways that children are inspired by the arts. This fall and well beyond, YA-WNY will continue to broaden young peoples' experience in school and in the community.
Friends, as you know, our ultimate vision is to enable all young people to participate in creative learning in the arts in Western New York, allowing them to experience and achieve success. We look forward to finding and establishing innovative and effective ways to do that-to widen our reach, to deepen our efforts, to reach out to more; it is only with your continued support and encouragement that we are able to do so. For that, we thank you.
With all my best wishes,
Cynnie Gaasch
Executive Director
