Van Wezel Education Department To Receive $10,000 Grant From The National Endowment For The Arts

National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $80 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $10,000 to The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Education Department for the Artworks for Schooltime initiative, an extension of the School Partnership Program. Art Works is the Arts Endowment's principal grantmaking program. The agency received 1,592 Art Works applications for this round of grantmaking and will award 977 grants in this category.

"These awards, reaching every corner of the United States, are a testament to the artistic richness and diversity in our country," said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. "Organizations such as The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall's Education Department are giving people in their community the opportunity to learn, create and be inspired."

"It is an honor that the National Endowment for the Arts has recognized the Van Wezel, our Arts Education Program and the hard work of our Arts Education Department. Through our School Partnership Program, the Van Wezel is committed to making the arts accessible to students, teachers and community members alike. We are continually looking to build the program and provide more opportunities for our partner schools and the community to engage with the arts. Support for the Artworks for Schooltime initiative, an extension of the School Partnership Program, will help provide teacher training, in-classroom arts workshops, attendance at Schooltime Performances and support for 2Gen family programming. We are humbled to be recognized by the Endowment for the Arts as one of a handful of organizations nationally that are giving people in their community the opportunity to learn, create and be inspired. Thank you." -Mary Bensel, Executive Director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

This project will allow for the growth of the Art Works for Schooltime Initiative to include a School Partnership model. At least four partner schools will work with the Van Wezel to develop a yearly plan featuring two Art Works learning Modules along with desired outcomes. Pre-K to Grade 3 students will be targeted for participation. Partner schools will receive teacher training, in classroom workshops, attendance at Schooltime Performances and 2Gen Family programs. Project activities will be around Art Works for Schooltime arts integration modules and will connect drama and visual arts to language arts and science learning. The partnerships will be developed to have unique learning objectives and goals that reflect the individual school's character and academic needs. Additional teachers and students will have access to Art Works for Schooltime learning modules.

For more information on this National Endowment for the Arts grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news. To learn more about the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall's Educational Outreach programs visit https://www.vanwezel.org/education/