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.

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

 

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.

Photo Credits: Bill Stanton

                     Charles Steinberg