Arts Learning Grant
Arts Learning Grant
SONA Summer Art Camp - 8 Week Art Camp for Steve O'Neil Youth and Families
Tara Makinen: former-Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Tammy Mattonen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, visual artist, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Emily Swanson: arts administrator at Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community; Kris Nelson: artist, teacher; Roxann Berglund: musician; Bill Payne: Professor of Theater at the University of Minnesota-Duluth
Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, Artistic Director of the Duluth Playhouse Family Theatre; Betty Firth: writer; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Kris Nelson: artist, teacher
ACHF Arts Education
The primary goal of this program is to provide children of diverse, urban backgrounds with art programming and education that would normally be unattainable. Further, we connect children with local artists and area art projects, and deepen the love and appreciation of the arts among the children and their families. Although there are a variety of art and nature programs throughout the city during the summer months, this population of children does not have access to those programs for a variety of socio-economic reasons including poverty and lack of transportation. Additionally, many of the programs available to youth do not include working artists that represent the Native American and African American communities, and the resources that are available are often limited to a day or short periods of time, often these programs are "one and done". This program will provide consistent, ongoing education throughout the summer and build on last year's foundation. We will know we have accomplished this objective through: 1. Attendance and retention of children throughout the summer as well as growth and interest in the art program over the course of the program 2. Feedback from the students and their families 3. Feedback from the larger SONA/Damiano community of guests, staff, volunteers, and staff. A survey will be conducted of all participants, visiting artists, families and volunteers. As this is a close tight-knit community, we will know we have succeeded by seeing our numbers increase through "word of mouth", feedback from the staff, and through conversations with the students and their families.
The summer program met and exceeded the goals set forth in the project. We were able to provide a continuum of art education from last summer and continue to develop on-going relationships with the residents of Steve O'Neil Apartments. We had 30 youth participating in the program (as well as some parents). We completed 12 projects that used drawing and color mixing skills with plenty of opportunity for personal self expression across a variety of media. To bring everything together, we completed a field trip to the Lake Superior Zoo, where we were able to observe the animals and draw them from life. Then, to top it off, we were able to have an in-person art show at Damiano Center followed by a month long display of the artwork at Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace. Each child was also given a sketchbook along with drawing and painting materials for use at home.
Other,local or private