Seven Schools Named Winners of $10,000 Arts Education Scholarships from Young Audiences and Target

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: November 25, 2013

Grants provide an array of high-quality arts education programming for school in need

Princeton, NJ – Seven schools in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania have been chosen to receive up to $10,000 for Arts Education Grants from Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania (YA) and Target Corporation. For a fourth straight year, Target and YA will work together to provide quality arts education programming to schools in need.  Through the grant, selected schools will work closely with YA to deliver a variety if arts education programs for the students, teachers and families throughout the region.

Bridge Academy FY13 Josh Robinson

“We received an overwhelming response from the public-school community to our Arts Education Grants,” said Larry Capo, Executive Director of Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania. “The seven selected schools are all committed to providing arts-rich educational programs, but lack the funding to put them in place. We look forward to working closely with these schools to develop the kind of meaningful arts programming that will continue to enrich and inspire their students.”

Out of 52 schools throughout New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania to apply for the grants, seven schools were selected.  Schools were chosen on a competitive basis, with priority given to those demonstrating financial need.
The schools that were awarded grants are:

  • Burlington City High School, Burlington, NJ
  • George Washington School, Hackensack, NJ
  • Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School, Philadelphia, PA
  • Our Lady of Mt Carmel School, Asbury Park, NJ
  • Paterson School 24, Paterson, NJ
  • Stepping Stone School, Pohatcong, NJ
  • Whitehall Elementary School, Norristown, PA

Each school will work with Young Audiences’ staff, and their roster of professional teaching artists, to plan first-quality arts programming tailored specifically for their schools’ unique needs. They will receive funding for a variety of initiatives, including:

  • professional arts performances at their school
  • in-depth, hands-on workshops with professional artists
  • professional development to help teachers best use the arts in their classrooms
  • assistance in creating a community event celebrating students’ work

Each of grant recipients have expressed how proud and excited they are to be a 2013-2014 recipient of a Target & Young Audiences grant.

“Funding opportunities such as this will position our school to overcome challenges we currently face, while enhancing our art education initiatives,” said James Flynn, Principal at Burlington City High School.  “We envision blending the arts across all academic disciplines within our school to enrich our students’ experiences and impact student achievement. The diverse programs that this grant will allow us to incorporate will fuel our student’s passions, while positively impacting their world.”

“At Target, we are committee to serving local communities where we do business,” said Laysha Ward, President, Community Relations, Target. “That’s why we are proud to partner with Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania as we work to strengthen communities and enrich the lives of our guests and team members.”

Photo Caption: YA Professional Teaching Artist, Josh Robinson with students from School 24 in Paterson, NJ during their Afro-Cuban Percussion Residency.

About Young Audiences – Founded in 1973, Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania is the premiere arts-in-education resource in the region, providing high-quality performances and artist-in-residence programs to nearly 500,000 children pre-kindergarten through 12th grade annually. Young Audiences’ extensive professional artist roster represents all art forms—from dance and theater to music, language and visual arts.

Young Audiences’ programs are accessible to all socio-economic, ethnic, cultural, and geographic communities, and are designed to strengthen the arts in schools, meet local and state curriculum standards, involve families in arts activities, and enrich cultural life in New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities.

Young Audiences New Jersey & Pennsylvania is the first arts education organization designated as a major service organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and, as part of the national network of Young Audiences, Inc. was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton. Young Audiences provides over 4,000 programs annually and are made possible in part through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State and Pennsylvania Council of the Arts. Additional funds come from the National Endowment for the Arts, foundations, corporations and generous individuals.

To learn more, visit yanjep.org. To be “social” with us, join us on Facebook and Twitter

About Target – Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,921 stores – 1,797 in the United States and 124 in Canada – and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit target.com/corporateresponsibility.

PRESS CONTACT:
Denyce Mylson
Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania
609-243-9000
[email protected]

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