2014-320 Arts - The Arts Center for Spring 2014 Arts Grant Agreement $1,500

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r The ArtsCenter: 2014-2015 School Show Series 3 ~ Connecting with curriculum is also a vital component of the School Show Series. In our marketing to teachers, each show outlines the curricula it addresses and targets specific grade levels, making it easy for teachers to identify the most beneficial experience and to integrate the content into their instruction.When available from the performer, The ArtsCenter also provides teachers with a study guide for the performance. These guides help prepare students for the shows and provide ideas on ways for teachers to extend the experience in the classroom before and after the performance (see enclosed sample guides). From our evaluations in previous years, we also learned that many teachers do use the study guides we provide for the School Shows, thus indicating to us that our shows are being integrated into the classroom study and are not always just a standalone experience. Additionally, as the series is planned, we make an effort to include people of different backgrounds and cultures, as we believe it is important for students to recognize the contributions made by different people to our culture and community and to provide students of different backgrounds a chance to celebrate their culture and to see others like themselves. Research has shown that experiencing live performances can provide benefits to the students that not only impacts their education but also has social and civic outcomes as well. For example, one study found "the arts' potential to foster positive dispositions for shared cultural diversity" (Schiller, W. (2005). Children's perceptions of live arts performances:A longitudinal study. Early Child Development and Care). Furthermore, the same study said, "Teachers reported noticing a stronger sense of harmony and understanding in the diverse climates of the schools as a result of the children's engagement with the live arts performances and their subsequent engagement in art-making." Additionally, "Participating children displayed playful engagement in learning and a confidence to experiment as a result of seeing the live arts performances." These benefits illustrate the way the School Show Series can make an impact on area youth and enhance their learning. The ArtsCenter has been serving children and families through targeted programs for more than thirty years. Having started as just a few performances for family audiences, The ArtsCenter's educational programming for youth has grown to include two performance series, an after-school program and art classes, summer camps, and an artist residency program that uses the arts to teach curriculum. Over the years, we have made changes to our programming to better serve our participants and keep in line with the needs of our community. We have, for example, adjusted the schedule of the School Show Series to better serve the students and teachers we reach. While our shows on-site used to begin in September and October, we recognized the increasing challenge for teachers to plan field trips during those first couple of months of the year; therefore, we now use that time at the start of the year to book shows in schools versus planning School Shows at The ArtsCenter. Our 2014-2015 School Show Series will offer in-school shows in October, for example, but will not begin the shows on-site at The ArtsCenter until November. We also seek feedback from teachers and key participants such as, the PTA Cultural Enrichment Committee, after shows. Conducting evaluations with our attendees has been helpful in learning information to assist in our planning of future programs and to ensure we are meeting the following objectives: 1)Artistic excellence through quality arts programming; (2) Accessibility by ensuring opportunities are available to all; (3) Community partnerships; (4) Educational merit & understanding. Making programming choices that keep their needs in mind are important to the success of the School Show Series. The arts are a valuable tool for learning, growth and development, community building, and fellowship. The benefits of The ArtsCenter's School Show Series are many. Not only do these programs enhance classroom study by exploring curriculum through the arts, but they also expose children to new ideas, art forms, cultures, and ways of thinking, as well as add excitement to a student's learning experience. Support from the Orange County Arts Commission would help to ensure that these essential learning opportunities and experiences are available to the youth in our community.