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June 25, 2008
Dear Friends of Arts to Grow:
We are very
happy to report that it has been an exciting and invigorating few months since
our last Arts to Grow newsletter. New
partners have joined the program.
New teaching artists are working with the
kids. And a still increasing number of volunteers have stepped up to support Arts to Grow. Although many of our
partners are closed for the summer, the work of Arts to Grow continues both in and out of the classroom.
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VOLUNTEERS HELPING ATG TO GROW In recent
months, a number of enthusiastic and talented people have joined Arts to Grow as volunteers. These new
volunteers are helping to build Arts to
Grow with their wide range of skills in areas such as marketing, database
creation, new program development, and videography.
In addition, in the past
several months, eight new volunteers have joined our Heart to HeART Benefit committee
to prepare for our next benefit in February 2009.
Arts to Grow
is expanding quickly and needs help from people with many different skills to
keep pace with the growing demand for new programs.
If you have a skill that
you'd like to share please contact info@artstogrow.org and put Volunteer Opportunities in the
subject line. Our benefit
committee is also looking for new members. With 11 members
already on board, we need a team of more than 25 volunteers to ensure a successful event. If you have experience with event
planning, pitching event sponsorships, selling tickets or just want to help out with the event, please, contact Mallory
King at mking@artstogrow.org. |
SUMMER OF LEARNING
Even during summer vacation, Arts to Grow
will continue to offer inspiring programs to kids with the least access to the
arts.
During July
and August at Harlem RBI in East Harlem, 5th and 6th graders will be exploring
African history while creating innovative African art pieces from recycled
materials under the guidance of teaching artist Vickie Fremont.
 This is our
second program with Harlem RBI, a year-round, nonprofit youth
development program, which began partnering with Arts to Grow this spring. Founded by volunteers in 1991, Harlem
RBI serves kids living in East
Harlem and reaches over 650 boys and girls every year.
Beginning next
month in Newark, New Jersey at Academy Street Firehouse, artist and poet S.K. Duff will spend 6
weeks with Arts to Grow students
ages 10 - 14 years old working on mixed media projects, using an array
of unusual objects. Duff's artwork has been featured in galleries around the
world, including the Museum
of Modern Art in New York City. He has
also published nearly 100 poems, articles, and short stories in dozens of
leading literary journals. This is our
second summer partnering with the Academy Street Firehouse.
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SPRING PERFORMANCES & EXHIBITS CONTINUE TO BLOOM This spring Arts to Grow added and expanded several performance-based programs throughout the New York City metro area. Like all ATG programs, these concluded with culminating events shared by friends and family.
In Hoboken, New Jersey at the Elysian Charter School, the first generation of Arts to Grow drama students acted as assistant directors for a production of Alice in Wonderland featuring younger students and directed by teaching artist and Co-Artistic Director of the Regroup Theatre, Patricia Runcie. The student assistant directors have worked with Patricia in Arts to Grow's programs at the Elysian since the spring of 2006 and they played a pivotal role in the organizing and directing of the two performances.
Across the Hudson in Manhattan, Arts to Grow students in grades 6, 7, and 8 at Mott Hall II Middle School on 109th Street studied Urban Dance, a fusion of hip-hop, house, jazz and Capoeria, a Brazilian blend of dance and martial arts. Classes there were lead by choreographer Erica Rebollar, the Artistic Director of the Rebollar Dance Theatre.
Also in Manhattan, in our first class at Harlem RBI, students in grades 5 and 6 studied African Arts with Recycled Materials led by Vickie Fremont. Students in this class participated in Harlem RBI's program-wide spring Exhibition Day showcasing and discussing their unique art pieces; including African masks, jewelry designed with African beads, handmade books, picture frames, and ethnic dolls.
And at the Broadway Branch of the Queens Public Library, Arts to Grow teaching artist Dina Ann Comolli introduced 10-14 year olds to improvisational comedy using the rules of playground games like Red Light/Green Light and Freeze Tag. Through these creative exercises, the students learned more about improvisation while also exploring their imaginations and expanding their acting skills. |
DONATE TO ARTS TO GROW
In order to
bring arts education to the kids with the least access to the arts, Arts to Grow keeps its fees for programs
low, often charging as little as 25% of the actual costs. We rely on sponsors
and individual donors like you to cover the other 75% of the cost of these programs.
Please consider making an investment in Arts to Grow today. Your dollars will go directly to support more inner -city kids participating in our programs. Donations to Arts to Grow
are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.
Click here to Make a Donation
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Thank you for your interest and support. Our success depends on the involvement of supporters, partners, and friends. We couldn't do it without you.
Warm regards,
Mallory
Photo Credits: Bill Stanton
Charles Steinberg | |
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Mallory King
Founder / Executive
Arts to Grow, Inc.
(201) 209-9886
mking@artstogrow.org
www.artstogrow.org
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