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artists building community fellowship pairs artists with school staff
(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Arts for Learning Indiana announced that select schools in the Indianapolis area will receive long-term, more intensive arts programming over a three-year period.
The Artists Building Community (ABC) fellowship is a unique program of Arts for Learning Indiana and this round of engagements is made possible by Lilly Endowment’s Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana initiative to help advance the academic, physical and social development of Indiana youth.
Through the fellowship, an Arts for Learning teaching artist is paired with a lead teacher (K-12 educator or administrator) for a 3-year residency. Together, they explore the assets of the school, the socio-cultural history of the surrounding community, and the needs of the students they are serving. The fellows create a new Arts for Learning program, by and with the school community, based on this deep integration.
The teaching artists, lead educators and school communities are as follows:
Teaching Artist and electric violinist Cathy Morris is paired with Chelsea Foster, Humanities Coach at Purdue Polytechnic High School Englewood. Early ideations center on creating a community-wide music festival led by students.
Teaching Artist and choreographer Justin Sears-Watson will be paired with dance instructor, Alexis Ingram, at James Whitcomb Riley IPS #43. The school is transitioning for the 2024-25 school year to be IPS’s only visual and performing arts elementary school. Early ideations center on starting a new dance program, complete with original student music and choreography and performances for the community.
Teaching artist and contemporary dancer, Krystal Breakley, will be paired with Face Liaison, Briana Burnett, and Community School Coordinator, Paige Crist, at Henry W. Longfellow Medical/STEM Middle School 28. This school is transitioning to be one of four IPS middle schools for the 2024-25 school year. Early Ideations center on creating an after-school ballet and contemporary dance program.
Teaching artist and actor Beverly Roche will be working with 3rd grade teacher, Megan Burger, at Herron Preparatory Academy. Early ideations center on creating an after-school student-led theater program open to the greater school community.
eight schools total
The four schools bring the total number of schools engaged in the Artists Building Community program to eight. The other schools have one or two more years left in the program and were made possible by the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.
“We are excited to see these artists use their creativity to build upon existing relationships to meet the needs of their communities through Arts for Learning,” said Clockwork Janz, Director of Equitable Practices.
ABCs officially began their fellowship last month and have met collectively to begin creating a framework for curating programs for their communities. More about the program can be found at ArtsForLearningIndiana.org/ABCs.
About Arts for Learning Indiana
Since 1961, Young Audiences, doing business as Arts for Learning Indiana, has been the premier provider of innovative arts education programs for youth across Indiana. Our programs empower youth and expand their learning through creative arts experiences. Arts for Learning employs more than 50 teaching artists who provide performances, workshops, and residencies to schools, libraries, and community organizations. We reach 40,000 youth every year. We also provide professional development to help classroom teachers and teaching artists effectively work together to integrate the arts into any educational environment. Arts for Learning is one of more than 30 affiliates of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, the nation’s largest arts in education learning network. To learn more about Arts for Learning, visit ArtsForLearningIndiana.org.
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