The PinkCricket Center for Arts Ed and GAPA Merge For Mutual Growth

Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Art, Inc., and The PinkCricket Center for Arts Education are merging in an effort to strengthen each other and provide programming in all arts areas for the community. This new venture is the latest in a series of changes Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts, Inc. ("GAPA"), formerly known as Soulful Arts Dance Academy, Inc., has undergone during the past year. Since October of 2009, GAPA has undergone a change in name, organizational structure, and focus as they have sought to overcome economic challenges and reach a wider audience with a broader range of arts programs. The PinkCricket, a youth arts center in downtown St. Petersburg, closed their physical location at the end of September due to financial struggles from an unexpected temporary closure at the end of August. Discussions on how the two organizations could help each other have resulted in the decision to fold several of The PinkCricket's youth programs into GAPA's expanded programming.

"Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts heard about our closure from the article in the St. Pete Times and asked us to meet to discuss a possible partnership," said Sara Turner, Executive Director of The PinkCricket. "We discovered we had endured many of the same struggles and really had similar ideas about what we wanted to offer and why. In many ways, it is like we are puzzles pieces that were meant to fit together. PinkCricket was offering an arts-based after school program and camps. We focused more on the visual and literary arts than the performing arts. GAPA was offering evening and weekend classes, which focused primarily on the performing arts. When we realized this, it was more than one organization rescuing another; it was about fitting those pieces together to form an organization that could provide a very well-rounded and strong arts program to the community."

The PinkCricket Center for Arts Education ("The PinkCricket") opened in August of 2009 and primarily focused on an arts based after school program, camps, and Kids' Night Out programs. The PinkCricket was planning on starting to offer evening and weekend workshops in October in addition to its after school program when a temporary closure at the beginning of the school year halted all of the organization's plans. The PinkCricket moved into a new building in downtown St. Petersburg to accommodate its rapidly growing programs and was in the process of becoming licensed by the Pinellas County Childcare Licensing Board for its growing after school program. The temporary closure caused too much financial damage and The PinkCricket was unable to recover in time to stay open at its physical location. While the physical location closed, the two women running The PinkCricket were determined to find new ways for The PinkCricket to stay active in the community.

As mentioned previously, GAPA has undergone some major changes and challenges during the past year as well. The nonprofit organization, founded in 2003, officially changed its name from Soulful Arts Dance Academy, Inc., to Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts, Inc., this past July as part of the organization's restructuring. In addition to the name change, GAPA also celebrated Artistic Director Kandace Nunn's acceptance of the role of Uniqua for the second time on Nickelodeon's national tour of Story Time Live. While Nunn has been on tour, Charlotte Quandt, the Administrative Director, has continued to maintain programming. Determined to keep the doors open and be able to provide their array of performing arts classes, the organization began searching for potential partnerships with other arts organizations. During this search, one of GAPA's advisory board members brought the article of The PinkCricket's closure to Quandt's attention. Quandt reached out to The PinkCricket to discuss a possible partnership. The meetings that followed led to the decision to not simply partner, but to fold the core programs of The PinkCricket into GAPA to create a stronger and more fully complete offering of programs in all arts areas.

"On behalf of our board, staff and faculty, I'm honored to represent our organization. As we continue to grow, our focus and vision are shifting to accommodate the expansion of our programming," said Charlotte Quandt, Administrative Director of GAPA. "Our new defined vision is to build a comprehensive and lasting arts program that positively impacts our students, families, partners and the greater community while providing high quality arts education. While these positive changes are occurring, we want to continue to maintain and emphasize a rich diversity in our students, families, teachers, and staff. The wide range of races, socio-economic backgrounds, and abilities represented in our organization has always been important to us and will continue to remain at the forefront. Our emphasis is on creative expression, technique and cultural diversity. We are actively searching for new board members, and donors to support our new found collaboration."

The arts-based after school program, camps, and other youth programming from The PinkCricket will now be offered at Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts as part of the organization's arts full range of arts programming. Sara Turner and Jennifer "Cricket" Brendel-Howell, The PinkCricket's Deputy Director, will be joining the staff of GAPA to implement and oversee these new programs. Camps will be offered as early as Thanksgiving Break and the after school program, Arts in the Afternoon, is expected to open in January of 2011. Turner and Brendel-Howell will continue to work as The PinkCricket, as well. The PinkCricket will continue to participate in community events, host special arts-related events, and begin offering outreach programs.
The PinkCricket is also eligible for a Pepsi Refresh Grant for $250,000 during the month of November. The organization was already closing its physical location when Turner submitted the application. She edited the grant application to reflect the closure, the need for funds to reopen, and the idea of partnering with another arts organization. Throughout the month of November, the public will be able to access The PinkCricket's idea and vote for the organization on the Pepsi Refresh website. Voters will be able to vote via text message, FaceBook, and the Pepsi Refresh website each day. If they are in the top two at the end of the month, they will receive the funding and be able to apply it to the new youth programs at GAPA, scholarships for the new after school program and camps, the implementation of large scale youth and family arts events, and The PinkCricket's new ventures in outreach arts education. The PinkCricket is planning on hosting voting events throughout St. Petersburg everyday during the month of November and has been reaching out to businesses, individuals, and other arts and culture organizations for support. The PinkCricket and GAPA are also planning several other fundraisers and events in an effort to introduce families, students, and community members to the new direction of both organizations and raise money to support the new programs

"While both organizations are excited about the potential of this new merger, we still have a lot of challenges ahead," said Turner. "Being able to provide equal access to the arts has been a big priority for both organizations. Despite our economic challenges, we not only want to be able to provide the scholarships offered in the past...we want to be able to offer even more to the community. We can't do this on our own. Opportunities, like the Pepsi Refresh Grant, and connections with potential donors are critical to our success! We need the support of the community, including new (and former) donors, to be able to make all of this happen."

The PinkCricket's mission is to provide youth equal access to the arts and the arts community; support creativity and individuality; facilitate community involvement in arts education; and reward achievements in the arts. Please call The PinkCricket at (727) 385-8121 / (727) 418-4626 or go to www.thepinkcricket.org for more information.

Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts' mission is to inspire, nurture and develop character through performing arts exposure and education. Please call Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts, Inc., at (727) 822-2555 or go to www.gapaweb.org for more information.

Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts, Inc., and The PinkCricket Center for Arts Education are located at 290 DR. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33705.

 

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