2014-596-E Arts - The ArtsCenter for 2014 Arts Grant Agreement $1,500

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 51955666-D2B3-47EB-A3E9-25B09E260A8A (see enclosed 2014-2015 School Show Series poster). The ArtsCenter's School Show Series consists of high-quality, arts-based educational performances by local, regional, and national artists. Each year, the School Show Series provides more than 20,000 experiences to area youth through the combination of performances at The ArtsCenter and in area schools. Annually, the majority of participants in the School Show Series are from Orange County. The Series reaches a combined population that is 52% White, 25% African-American, 14% Latino, 7% Asian-American, and 2% Native American, which more diverse than other ArtsCenter audiences. Based on current reservations, we anticipate Jabali African Acrobats' School Shows at The ArtsCenter to reach more than 550 people, representing four districts (Orange, CHCCS, Durham, and Chatham). The audiences for these two shows will be a mix of students (preK-6t") from area public, private and Montessori schools as well as some local home-school groups, and will also include a high-school Exceptional Children's class. Having School Shows at The ArtsCenter not only expands the geographic reach of The ArtsCenter's educational programming but also enables students to make field trips to The ArtsCenter to experience a performance. For some students, stepping into The ArtsCenter's theater may be the first time they have ever been in a professional performance space and their first time experiencing a live performance in a theater venue. To ensure accessibility of these opportunities, School Shows at The ArtsCenter are offered at an affordable cost ($7/ticket) and some reduced-price scholarship tickets are available. Teachers receive one free ticket for every 10 students. The ArtsCenter has made 50 scholarship tickets available for under-served youth to attend these shows at The ArtsCenter. In addition to making School Shows financially accessible for schools, it is also important to emphasize educational connections. When available from the performer, The ArtsCenter 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 the enclosed Jabali Study Guide). For more than 30 years, The ArtsCenter has served area youth and families in the community through performances and other arts-based educational experiences. This booking of Jabali African Acrobats is similar in scope to many other artists' visits we coordinate multiple times each season, combining performances at The ArtsCenter and in area schools. Bringing Jabali to the area will be a meaningful experience, as we hope it will not only resonate with under-served members of our community but it will also help to celebrate the many cultures that make up our area. The ArtsCenter respectfully requests $1,500 in support from the Orange County Arts Commission to make this project possible.