Arts Learning Grant

One of NSMA's key organizational goals is "to provide a wide array of musical genres from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds each season, to broaden our community's awareness and sense of belonging within the global community." Our measurable outcome with this project is that local young people (as well as people of all ages at the concert) will learn about the cultures, geography, and arts of the Balkan and Romany people. In doing so, they will gain a greater understanding of what it means to be global citizens sharing this planet with people who may at first seem to be only "different" or "other." Learning about Balkan and Romany people through the joyful vehicle of music and dance will entertain and delight learners. It will increase their understanding of what makes these cultures different from our own, as well as what we have in common and what connects us in important ways. Evaluation methods of this project will include board and staff assessment of feedback and data taken from surveys filled out by the students who attend the school program; and people of all ages who attend the evening concert. It will also include the assessment of verbal and written feedback (e.g. letters, email, social media posts) from event participants post-event; a count of school program attendees; and a count of concert-ticket buyers. Success for the school program will look like responses from students that show they have learned about the cultures, geography, and arts of the Balkan and Romany people, and that they have greatly enjoyed and been entertained and inspired the program. Success for the public concert will look like enthusiastic feedback from the audience that they also have been entertained and inspired by the band's performance and that they have learned things they did not know about the Balkan and Romany people.