AIE Provides an Artist in Residence to 11 Schools Throughout New Jersey

This school year, the Artists in Education Grant Program (AIE) is pleased to announce that it will be awarding 11 long-term residencies throughout the state of New Jersey.

AIE-presented-by-the-nj-counsel-on-the-arts-and-ya

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Michael Roberson Reid
AIE Manager
609.243.9000 ext. 219
[email protected]


11 Schools Reached by the 2023 – 2024 Artists in Education Grant Program

aie-student-dancing-to-drum

Students at Hawkins Street School learning capoeira.

Princeton, NJ. September 12, 2023: This school year, the Artists in Education Grant Program (AIE) is pleased to announce that it will be awarding 11 long-term residencies throughout the state of New Jersey. These residencies will take place in-person during the school day and include art forms such as musical theatre, capoeira, step dance, puppetry and more. In addition to the residency work that is done with the students, professional teaching artists will also provide professional development to school staff-, and assist the students in developing a culminating event to showcase their work.

The Artists in Education Grant Program (AIE) is a co-sponsored project of Young Audiences Arts for Learning New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. -It is carried out in partnership with regional partners, including Count Basie Center for the Arts and Morris Arts.

AIE grants (in value of $11,000+) place professional teaching artists in classrooms for long-term residencies that can be offered in all arts disciplines and at all grade levels. AIE grants are available to any New Jersey school, Pre-K through 12th grade. The twenty-day (minimum) residency provides professional development in the visual, performing, and literary arts, classroom workshop days with a professional teaching artist, and a community-based culminating event. AIE residencies focus on direct learning about the arts and the processes of creating art, including the skills, techniques, and concepts of the art form.

The 2023 – 2024 schools are:

  • A. Russell Knight Elementary School(Cherry Hill, Camden County)
  • Dr. Charles C. Polk Elementary School (Roselle, Union County)
  • Discovery Charter School (Newark, Essex County)
  • Farmingdale Public School (Farmingdale, Monmouth County)
  • Haledon Public School (Haledon, Passaic County)
  • Hawkins Street School (Newark, Essex County)
  • John P. Holland Charter School (Woodland Park, Passaic County)
  • Middle Township High School (Cape May Court House, Cape May County)
  • Seth Boyden Demonstration School (Maplewood, Essex County)
  • Toms River Intermediate East (Toms River, Ocean County)
  • Washington Avenue School (Pleasantville, Atlantic County)
Seth-Boyden-Students-dance-culmination

Students at Seth Boyden Demonstration School perform in a stepping show at a school-wide assembly as part of their culminating event. Students learned about the art, history, and culture of stepping during their 2022-2023 residency with Newark-based teaching artist Maxine Lyle.

“In this challenging time, we are thrilled that the New Jersey State Council on the Arts has made it possible for us to reach more New Jersey schools and students with artist in residence programs,” says President and CEO of Young Audiences Michele Russo. “We know these experiences are a lifeline for some students who are struggling and feeling disconnected. Guided by the innovation and creativity of our teaching artists, collaborating teachers and students, we are prepared for amazing things!”

Samantha Clarke, Program Officer for Arts Education and Lifelong Learning at the State Arts Council says: “One of the Arts Council’s longstanding priorities is arts education. At the Council, we believe that no child’s education is complete without engaging, hands-on arts learning. The Artists in Education Grant Program provides meaningful experiences, customized for each school and their student population. We are eager to see what these students create as they work with both educators and professional teaching artists.”

“These projects allow creativity to explode, making visions become a reality. The labyrinth and sculptures we created are visual curators of the transformative power of art. The lasting work demonstrates to our students, school and community the importance of a vibrant art culture,” says Karen Biederman, an art teacher at Middle Township High School, which is receiving an AIE grant for the second consecutive year.

AIE congratulates all of the schools participating in the Artists in Education Grant Program, and we wish them a great school year with their teaching artists.

To keep up to date on AIE, follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@NJArtistsinEd).

About the New Jersey State Council on the Arts

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council believes the arts are central to every element we value most in a modern society including: human understanding; cultural and civic pride; strong communities; excellent schools; lifelong learning; creative expression; and economic opportunity. To learn more about the Council, please visit www.artscouncil.nj.gov.

About Young Audiences Arts for Learning New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania

Founded in 1973, Young Audiences Arts for Learning New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania is the premier arts-in-education resource in the region, providing teaching artist-led performances, workshops, residencies, and teacher professional learning programs to schools in all 21 counties of New Jersey and the 7 easternmost counties of Pennsylvania. Young Audiences’ extensive professional artist roster represents all art forms—from dance and theater to music, language and visual arts. Since its founding, the organization has reached over 15 million children in its 50-year history.

A not-for-profit organization, Young Audiences’ mission is to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. Students are the center of our work. Our vision is that every child will have rich and meaningful arts experiences as part of their education. Young Audiences’ continually strives to create learning spaces that are diverse, equitable and inclusive to all students. Our programs are committed to providing students of all identities, backgrounds and experiences with arts education that reflect their lived experience, and nurture empathy, cross-cultural understanding and acceptance. Young Audiences’ programs are designed to strengthen the arts in schools, meet local and state student learning standards and enrich cultural life in New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities.

Young Audiences Arts For Learning New Jersey and Eastern 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’ programs 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 funding comes from foundations, corporations and generous individuals. To learn more, visit www.yanjep.org. To be “social” with us, join us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @YAAFLORG.