The Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) has been awarded a $12,000 PNC Grow Up Great grant from the PNC Foundation for its Head StART in ART program. This grant will allow the Arts Council to continue the Head StART in ART program at the Tubman Head Start Center in Columbia for the 2014-2015 school year.
HCAC established the Head StART in ART program in FY2000 in partnership with the Ellicott City Head Start Center to provide hands-on experiences in the arts for pre-K students from low-income families. This program provides students with opportunities to explore the arts and their own creativity under the guidance and inspiration of a professional teaching artist. Head StART in ART places teaching artists in the classrooms for periods of 3 to 6 weeks. The program has been recognized as a model early childhood arts education program by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Maryland State Arts Council. Coleen West, Howard County Arts Council Executive Director says, "We are extremely proud of the Head StART in ART program. Education is one of the most important tools that we have to beat poverty, and quality early education is the key to success. An essential component of a quality education is the arts. Head StART in ART provides at-risk children with an early introduction to the arts and creative play, which builds social and cognitive skills, encourages exploration, builds self confidence, and instills a love of discovery and learning that will last a lifetime!"Videos