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Our Vision:
We envision a Maryland
where the arts are valued for their
capacity to transform lives, and where
every student is immersed in
opportunities to imagine, to create and
to realize their full potential through
the arts.
Young Audiences / Arts for Learning
partners with over 400 schools and
community-based organizations across the
state to provide nearly 13 arts
experiences every day of the school
year.
Just like our youth need to have good
nutrition on a daily basis to thrive,
they also need to have their daily
serving of the arts to excel. Are you
concerned about the level of arts in
your child's education? If so, please
contact us.
Young Audiences is Here to Help!
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We Make Sure It's Good
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We Make Sure It Connects
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We Make It Affordable
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We Make It Easy
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And We Definitely Make It Fun!
Click here
to schedule an arts in education program
today!
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On the Bright Side: A tour of
Young Audiences
Young Audiences/Arts for Learning
recently started offering one-hour On
The Bright Side tours in order to share
the work we do firsthand with community
members. It is a great way for people to
learn more about us and for friends of
the organization to get reunited with
our mission, and it will give you an
opportunity to visit our new office
space at Miller's Court.
We are trying to get the word out into
the community about the work that we do
and to get feedback about how we talk
about our programs. As a trusted friend
of the organization, we hope that you
can help us! At the tour, you'll have a
chance to meet Lois Mark, our board
president, and Gayle Danley, one of our
roster artists, as well as some YA
staff. We plan to have an intimate crowd
of only about 10 people at each one.
Please know you won't be asked to make a
financial contribution, but we will
share with you how we need support from
the community.
If a board member or staff person calls
you to extend an invitation, please
consider joining us! If you would like
to know more about these tours, feel
free to call the development office at
410-837-7577.
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Staff Corner
Donna Sherman, Program
Coordinator
Through our Access for All Initiative,
we awarded 16 Baltimore City Public
Schools arts-in-education programs in
the Winter/Spring Semester at only 10%
of the cost.
YA ensemble, Dishibem Traditional
Contemporary Dance Company wrapped up a
successful two week tour of over 30
schools in Wicomico County.
In October and November YA provided 139
live performances in schools across the
state.
Pat Cruz, Education Director
The Education Department is busy with
artist-in-residencies, school
partnerships, and the Teaching Artist
Institute. Residency Coordinator,
Brendan Ragan, is working with schools
across the state to plan over 50
Residencies. This Fall, Jessica Porter,
Manager of School Partnerships, is
working closely with three Baltimore
City Schools to provide long term,
in-depth arts enrichment programs. YA
served 360 students with a total of 604
workshops this fall.
Eighteen artists, ranging from Djembe
Drummers to Printmakers, are
participating in TAI Seminar I: Bringing
your Art into the Classroom.
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Announcements and Events
On The Bright Side: An invited
Introduction to Young Audiences/Arts for
Learning
Featuring a sunny forecast for our
children’s education
(all under 60 minutes and comes with a
cup of coffee!)
Tour Dates:
Wednesday, January 6, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 21, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, February 3, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 4, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, April 14, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Howard
County Cultural Arts Showcase
When: March 4,5 2010
Eight YA artists have been selected to
perform!
Click here
for more information.
This just in...
We are currently
looking for positions that include
Artistic Direction, Program Director,
and marketing and Public Relations
manager. Please visit the
staff page
of our website
for more information.
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Faith Redeemed: Charles' Story
By Gayle Danley, YA Roster Artist
and Slam Poet
Deerfield Run
Elementary School Residency
...and finally, he spoke. Squared his little
shoulders, cleared all fear from his throat,
and spoke. Simple words that spilled from
him as painful as they were true. You had
waited for his words for weeks, anticipated
the sound they would make once they mingled
on the silent classroom air. You knew it was
coming, could fathom the presence of some
powerful life story within him.
So...you waited, expectantly, patiently, as
if his poem were a bus, arriving in its own
time, no matter how many lies the schedule
told.
...and finally, Charles, the seemingly
defiant 6th grade boy, Deerfield Run
Elementary School, spoke.
"My mother died.
It was unfair.
She left all us kids with no mother.
I closed my eyes at her funeral
and cried
(Here he crumples to the awestruck floor)
It was unfair
She left us
She left me
alone
It was not fair."
Silence screamed across the room. I mean,
this was Charles, the kid every teaching
artist dreads. You know the one: perches
himself somewhere far away from everyone.
Finds a secluded spot behind a desk, covers
his head with his hood, places his head on
his stubborn arms, and does nothing. For
days. He's the one who makes you want to
quit your job. His inattention infuriates
you.
First you dip into your little purse of
tricks: "Ok, I've seen your kind before.
Take this!" And you toss the boy the
undiluted force of your art. You tap dance
across his empty eyes. You juggle red balls
high into his nonchalance. You pirouette
across the edges of his eyes. You are
beautiful for forty five minutes each day.
You fail.
Your little balls clatter to the floor
beneath his feet. You decide to ignore him.
Tuck his hostility behind your ear like a
number 2 pencil and proceed to reach his
classmates. After all, you reason, I can't
affect them all. If I reach one (blah blah
blah.)
Then one day, the stars form a Milky Way
above the chalkboard. Earth stops spinning
around the sun. The cheap florescent light
turns into a follow spot. Charles raises his
hand. Charles asks you can he read his poem.
You gulp.
The students gulp.
The teacher rubs her eyes frozen open in
disbelief.
The angels softly sing a bar of the
Hallelujah Chorus.
Charles walks measurably to the front of the
room. He doesn't look at anyone. He doesn't
need to. He reaches into his jeans pocket,
unfolds the paper cowering deep inside. And
reads. And crumples, just like his paper,
only Charles crumples more than the paper
because the paper hasn't lost its mom.
Charles has.
You stand there unable to speak. You allow
silence to swallow the air.
Minutes pass. Finally, you violate your
training, open your arms and enfold the
crying boy. Wrap your pain and your words
around his.
This is the moment you have lived for since
third grade. This is the moment you renew
your vows to your art. This is when you
decide, again, that you will never work, can
never work, another job but this one.
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Ssunna and EBCS students celebrate
Ugandan culture through music and dance. |
Partnership Highlight: East Baltimore
Community School
Building Community
through the Arts
In September 2009, Young Audiences/Arts for
Learning (YA) began its partnership with East
Baltimore Community School (EBCS), a new
elementary school in Baltimore City that is
focused on achieving high academic standards
through hands-on-learning, critical thinking,
and creative problem solving that extends beyond
the boundaries of the classroom.
Through this partnership, YA is providing an
arts enrichment program that supplements the
school’s instrumental music program. Over the
course of the year, YA provides three 12-week
artist-in-residence programs, serving the entire
school. Currently, YA school partnerships site
manager, Jessica Porter, and YA roster artist
Ssuuna, professional African dancer, drummer,
singer, songwriter, and storyteller have been
working with fifth grade students on a
combination of African djembe drumming and
traditional Ugandan dance. Ssuuna is connecting
traditions from Ugandan culture to new culture
and traditions that students and faculty are
developing for their school. Kindergarten and
first grade students are working with Ssuuna and
Jessica to discuss and interpret the concept of
“community” and “roles in community” through
movement and dance.
EBCS Principal, Cathy Miles, envisions this
residency as a vehicle for building community in
her new school. Playing drum rhythms they
learned with Ssuuna, the fifth graders have been
utilizing their new skills to call together the
school for weekly meetings. Each week four fifth
grade students are selected to drum for the
Wednesday meeting. Students are connecting the
tradition and function behind African drumming
by incorporating it as a means to communicate in
their own community. Every Wednesday at 10:50
a.m. students gather in the hall and begin
playing the rhythms that signal the time to
gather. Through this tradition students
demonstrate leadership as well as a
deeper-understanding and respect for African
Drumming.
Students at EBCS have welcomed Ssuuna warmly
and have taken an instant liking to the class.
When asked about his favorite aspect of Mr.
Ssuuna’s residency, fifth grader Kevin Fryson
easily chose the djembe drumming. Kevin said, “I
never got a chance to drum before and it’s
really fun to play while other students learn
and perform the dance.”
As Ssuuna’s 12 week residency comes to a
close, Cathy Miles hopes that students at her
school have “learned a different way of thinking
about themselves as learners; to express
themselves through physical and musical means.
Drumming in African cultures is often a position
of leadership and community organization.
Through dance, students learn to express their
soul and share it with others or keep it
private.”
Ssuuna’s residency at EBCS will end with a
culminating performance at the school’s
exhibition night on December 16th. Ms. Miles and
the East Baltimore Community School are excited
to see students share their knowledge, new
skills, and talents. Ms. Miles anticipates that
on December 16th, “the families, the community,
and especially our children will see and
appreciate the impact of drumming and dance on
the lives of the students and how it enriches
their learning. ”Kevin Fryson is anxiously
awaiting exhibition night. Kevin is most excited
about “getting to drum in front of everyone.”
Staff at EBCS and YA believe that this common
arts experience has helped to build
relationships, leadership, and a sense of
belonging to the EBCS community.
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Your Support is
Needed
Please remember Young Audiences/Arts for
Learning in your year-end giving. The economic
climate continues to impact school district and
PTA budgets. It is only with community support
that we are able to fill this gap and provide
programs ranging from live performances to
in-depth artist residencies, serving more than
200,000 children each year.
Your contribution can help keep our services
affordable and accessible—providing our most
underserved schools with deeply discounted
programs. We know that you share our belief that
the arts do more than inspire – they uplift,
heal, engage, and transform children,
classrooms, and communities. The arts reach
different types of learners in different ways,
leveling the playing field for children of
various socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities,
and help prepare students with life skills, such
as collaboration, problem-solving abilities, and
self discipline.
Did you know that Young Audiences/Arts for
Learning is celebrating its 60th year? Consider
giving $60 for our 60 years of service. Of
course, a gift of $100, $250 or even $500 will
have a more significant impact. We are grateful
for any amount. Please donate now by
clicking here.
Please help us make our 60th our most
successful year yet. For more information,
please call the development office at
410-837-7577.
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Grant Opportunities
Current Grants
1.
Access for All Initiative: YA Arts
Programs at 90% off!
Thanks to generous donors, YA
artists and programs are available to
high need Baltimore City Public Schools
at 90% off (a $400 assembly would cost
you only $40.) This opportunity helps
principals with limited resources
provide hands-on learning in the arts
that compliments and enriches their
curriculum.
Deadline to apply: April 15, 2010. To
downolad the application
click here.
To learn
more and to apply, please contact YA's
Program Coordinator
Donna Sherman at 410-837-7577 ext.
102.
2. YA may have MSAC AIE funding available
for approved artists. This grant can take up
to 33% off program fees. To learn more,
please contact YA's Program Coordinator
Donna Sherman.
3. YA will help you apply for grants and
funding. Check with your local arts council
to see what is available in your area. For
more information on locating and applying
for funding, please contact YA's Education
Director
Pat Cruz.
Carroll County Arts in
Education Grant
Deadline to apply:
None
This grant, in the amount of $250, is
awarded as submissions are received. The
grant can be used towards scheduling YA
programs offered by artists that are based
in Maryland.
The application is only ONE PAGE and very
easy. For more information, contact YA's
Residency Coordinator
Brendan Ragan or
click here.
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