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Statement Arts: Project Urban Arts has filled the immediate needs of the music program at the High School of Environmental Studies (HSES), an underserved public school in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen. To date our top two priorities have been:
Bringing in experienced professionals to work with the students as teaching artists.
Professional New York City choreographers, actors, directors, casting agents, pianists, costumers and photographers have all come in to work with these talented students. One teaching artist, Chris Kies, donated his time to conduct workshops and rehearse with the students as he had a role in HSES’s first musical production, A Chorus Line. Workshops, photo sessions, Statement Arts. master classes, and rehearsals were all coordinated through Statement Arts. We have
provided opportunities for our students to meet working professionals.
Sponsoring HSES students for voice, acting and dance classes.
Over the past 3 summers, through private donations, Statement Arts: Project Urban Arts has sent over 60 students to summer classes. We sponsored 30 students to an annual six-week voice clinic at Third Street Music School; 20 additional students took private singing lessons; and two students received a four-week intensive dance workshop at Studio Maestro. In July and August of 2005, twelve students attended a bi-weekly three-hour acting class.
Set up scholarship funds for qualified students and help them to find other available scholarships.
Provide the school arts programs with needed equipment and updated technology including but not limited to:
- Computers and software programs
- Sound systems
- Recording equipment
- Photography lab
- Musical Instruments
Bring professional performers to the school and take the students to live performances.
Expand a web site where Statement Arts: Urban Arts community can post and read about monthly activities and where potential donors can find information about Statement Arts.
Enable schools to put on productions and performances they might not otherwise have been able to.
Continue to bring in teaching artists to work with the students.
Work with the community by performing, taking photos, painting murals, etc.!
During the winter of 2004, our music and theatre students were invited to accompany Broadway and radio singers on their annual caroling tour for the New York City Fire Department. The FDNY has already asked for them to come back again this year. In 2006, we plan to expand this tradition to include community centers.
Project: Urban Arts is dedicated to cultivating a deeper relationship with the community.
In the past 3 years, Statement Arts: Urban Arts has accomplished the following:
- Sponsored transportation for students traveling to college interviews and auditions
- Funded school trips for music and theatre competitions and performances
- Accompanied students to theatrical shows, classic movies and concerts
- Organized free photo sessions for the students so they could have professional headshots for other auditions
- Donated costumes for the musical performances
Since Statement Arts: Urban Arts has been working with the High School of Environmental Studies, several master class students have already met with tremendous success!
- Bill & Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient 2005
- Honor Roll & National Honors Society members
- Sundance Film Festival participant
- Three students signed with agents
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