News

Greater Olney to showcase choirs in concert on May 24

2012-05-15T16:09:54+00:00

ArtsRising and stakeholders in the Greater Olney community are happy to present the Greater Olney Community Concert & Family Resource Fair on Thursday, May 24 at 6:30 pm. The concert, which will feature six local school and faith-based choirs, will be held at the Grover Washington Jr. Middle School auditorium.

The concert will feature choirs from Grover Washington Jr. Middle School, Lowell Elementary School, Feltonville School of Arts & Sciences, Olney Charter High School, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Incarnation of Our Lord's Haitian congregation.

The event will be proceeded by a Family Resource Fair where youth service providers will share information on a variety of educational programs and summer youth activities.

The event is co-sponsored by ArtsRising, North 5th Street Revitalization Project, PECO, Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco's office and Grover Washington Jr. Middle School.

Support is being provided by a dedicated group of community volunteers.

Harding students dramatize effects of bullying

2012-05-15T15:48:21+00:00

The 7th graders from Class C-730 at Harding Middle School culminated their partnership with Walnut Street Theatre by presenting two dramatic works to their younger peers at Sullivan Elementary School on Monday. The pieces explored the effects of bullying in school in all its forms including cyber-bullying. They also addressed strategies on how to combat bullying.

This program expanded on work that was initially begun last year at Harding.

Walnut Street's Teaching Artists Ashley Kerns, Khris Davis and Holly Yokley facilitated the year-long residency along with three Harding teachers - Mr. Pollock, Mr. McGowen and Mr. Tietz.

This program was a pilot for Walnut Street Theatre which they hope to solidify into a replicable national model.

A Fabulous Day at the Kensington Summer Youth EXPO

2012-05-13T13:14:53+00:00

Families came out to attend the Kensington Summer Youth EXPO yesterday and enjoyed a beautiful sunny day filled with performances, food and information for parents about a myraid of summer programs for their children. And we cannot forget about the big air-filled obstacle course for the kids!

Featured performers were: Edison High School Percussion Ensemble, Philareyto Dancers, The Feltonville Dream Center Dancers, Project Spotlight Ballroom Dance Team and artists from the K&S Records label.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this wonderful day - the vendors, performers, set-up crew - and especially the volunteers!

Kensington hosts Summer Youth Expo on May 12 at Stetson Charter

2012-05-11T16:08:32+00:00

ArtsRising, along with a myriad of community partners, are hosting the Kensington Summer Youth EXPO on Saturday, May 12 from 12 pm - 4 pm in the playground of Stetson Charter School.

The event seeks to connect local youth and families with up to 25 different youth service providers in the neighborhood and city. Many of the vendors run arts programs during the summer and throughout the year.

The event will also feature live performances by local performance groups featuring youth, food and fun! The EXPO is free of charge.

ArtsRising partners include: PhillyRising, Kensington EPIC Stakeholders, Graduation Coach Campaign, Goodlands, New Kensington CDC and ASPIRA.

We would also like to acknowledge the following for their vital contributions:

Stetson teachers George Dennis & John Seman for spinning the music
Keystone Mercy Health Plan, Graduation Coach Campaign and Richie for donations of food and drinks
Cheryl Lawrence at Lighthouse Family Community Church for supplying the youth volunteers
All other event volunteers
Stetson Charter School for use of their facility

Looking for ways to get funding for your art classroom or organization?

2012-05-10T17:59:08+00:00

Looking for ways to get funding for your art classroom or organization? Check out these resources.

> Funding Resources for Teachers, Schools, & Arts Organizations 2012

For more information, please contact Gretchen Walker at (215) 563- 5848 x 22 or at gretchenelise@pccy.org.

Wagner students go on the air

2012-05-09T21:17:59+00:00

Next week, four students from Tara Thomas' art class at Wagner Middle School will have a unique opportunity to speak on the radio. Ms. Thomas and her students will be interviewed about the Delphi After School Art Club with Loraine Ballard Morrill, the News Director and Community Affairs Director for Clear Channel.

Clear Channel Radio’s six Philadelphia stations will air the interview: Power 99 FM, WDAS FM, Radio 104.5 FM., My 106.1, Rumba 1480 and Q102.

The interview will air on Tuesday, May 15 at 1 pm - tune in!

Baldi musicians triumph at 2012 Music in the Parks

2012-05-07T19:02:35+00:00

On Saturday, May 5, Baldi Middle School musicians packed up their instruments and spent the day in Dorney Park. This was no ordinary field trip - students in the Baldi String Orchestra and the Baldi Band had the opportunity to perform in the 2012 Music in the Parks competition, held annually at the amusement park. Schools from across the midatlantic region (New York, New Jersey, Delaware) performed throughout the day.

Last year, Baldi students traveled to Music in the Parks for the first time and achieved a slew of awards. This year was no different! Both the String Orchestra and the Band came in first place with excellent ratings. The band also received the award for Best Overall Middle School Band, indicating that their scores were higher than any other middle school band in all divisions.

To top it off, Baldi received the Espirit de Corps award for best musicianship on the stage, best citizenship, and best behavior. Baldi took home this prize last year as well.

A big congratulations to these fantastic musicians!

HELP COLLECT 1000 SIGNATURES BY MAY 17

2012-05-03T16:56:20+00:00

Arts education is so vital to our children and youth. With the current budget crisis in Philadelphia public schools, arts programs are at risk of being cut. The arts foster more than creativity---they increase children’s self-esteem, create critical thinkers and leaders. See some kids’ enthusiasm about the arts here.

Please support arts education. Sign our petition to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: http://www.change.org/petitions/keep-arts-education-strong-in-philly-schools

Albanian/ Arabic / Chinese/ Russian / Spanish translations and hard copy at: www.pccy.org/artsedpetition

Public/Private Partnership Promotes Art Appreciation

2012-03-30T14:55:14+00:00

What happens when one of Philadelphia’s major utility companies who sponsors an ArtsZone gets together with one of the city’s most prestigious art institutions to do something good for kids? The answer is that hundreds of students and their family members will have a unique opportunity to experience the much acclaimed Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit exhibit through sponsored visits to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and through a gifted book about the African-American painter’s life and work.

The goal of ArtsZones, a key strategy of ArtsRising, is to ensure access to high quality arts education and experiences for all children and youth. As the first sponsor of a Philadelphia ArtsZone, PECO has been a pioneer in helping ArtsRising to achieve this goal. While PECO has purchased more than $26,000 worth of books to donate, PAFA is covering the cost of busing students on three separate occasions for guided tours of the Tanner exhibit and interactive workshops. The first visit will take place this Sunday.

WHAT: Between 60 and 70 elementary and middle school students and their parents will be transported to PAFA to view the Tanner exhibit and then create art together at the Family Arts Academy.

WHO: 35 students and parents from Lowell Elementary School 35 students and parents from Grover Washington Middle School

WHEN & WHERE:
Sunday, April 1, 2012 | 1:00 PM
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | 128 N. Broad St. | Philadelphia, PA 19102-1424
Directions - http://www.pafa.org/Visit-PAFA/Directions/233/

Speak up for arts education

2012-03-03T19:17:26+00:00

ArtsRising advocates have been speaking up:

Gretchen Elise Walker, picasso project coordinator at Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), gave testimony about the importance of arts education at the School Reform Commission meeting on January 19, 2012. Read her testimony here.

Do you have something to say about arts education in Philadelphia? Register to testify at an upcoming SRC meeting; PCCY can help you with your testimony. Contact Shanee Garner for assistance.