Arts Learning

Illusion brought arts learning opportunities to youth at nine sites in Minnesota, making it easy for them to access our theater education program and gain experience creating and performing with guidance from professional artists. We conducted work at schools in Duluth, Blue Earth, Fairmont, St Paul, and New Brighton, and at Courage Saint Croix in Stillwater. We also brought youth from these sites – including Duluth – to student matinee performances at Illusion. Additionally, we brought youth from many of these sites to Illusion to participate in the Summer Institute. In evaluating the outcome, we maintained records of the sites where we conducted work and the numbers of youth served. We also spoke with participating youth, the adult liaisons at each site, and with the teaching artists to determine how well barriers were mitigated. In all cases, Illusion’s residencies were successful in removing barriers. 2: Illusion provided new opportunities for youth to engage in arts learning at all of the nine sites Minnesota sites, providing theater education and training, and giving them wonderful chances to work with professional artists to create and perform work. As outlined above, we worked with students in schools in Duluth, Blue Earth, Fairmont, St Paul, and New Brighton, and at Courage Saint Croix in Stillwater. Youth from these sites got to see professional theater live when they attended student matinees at Illusion. Additionally, we brought youth from many of these sites to Illusion to participate in the Summer Institute. In evaluating the outcome, we maintained records of the sites where we conducted work and the numbers of youth served. We also spoke with participating youth, the adult liaisons at each site, and with the teaching artists to determine their level of satisfaction with the program. All were highly enthusiastic about the arts learning opportunities we provided.