Ongoing SHARE Initiatives and Fundraising Events
The unique flexibility and power of the SHARE program is that it provides an easy way for you to support Arts in Education doing exactly what you do already. In addition to Events that happen only a limited number of times (listed on our SHARE Calendar), supporters of the Arts have created numerous on-going fundraising initiatives, such as sales of CD’s, percentages from sales of other goods and services, and even portions of their own sales commissions! By supporting these local artists and businesspeople in their endeavors, you also support Arts in Education. Thank you!
2008-09 Grant Recipients
Artists for the Arts is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2008 - 2009 granting season. AFTA has the privilege to award grants to 15 individual school programs this year for a total of approximately $10,000. Winning schools include elementary schools, middle schools and high schools throughout the Metro Area. Projects include music, photography, architectural drafting, printmaking, quilt making, theater, fine arts, mural painting, ceramic tile making and others.
As we all know, giving is more challenging for many businesses and individuals now than ever before. AFTA salutes all of our supporters this year for continuing to prioritize arts as an indispensable part of our kids’ lives – as well as all of the caring educators who submitted grant proposals this year.
Our winning ‘08 - ‘09 programs are as follows:
Alder Creek Middle School – An art-based literary and creativity project that creates art out of letters.
Atkinson School – RHYTHM, an arts and literacy project that integrates music and poetry with the learning of second languages.
Clackamas High School – The purchase of a new printing press for use in current and future printmaking classes.
Concord Elementary – A study of the art of photography.
El Puente Bilingual School – “The Classroom Village” theater arts program.
Fir Ridge Campus – A study in photojournalism.
Irvington School – Instruments and music books for a bell choir.
Jefferson High School/ YMA – Mentoring by five established Northeast Portland artists to create and show artwork in the Interstate Firehouse Gallery in February ‘09.
Milwaukie Elementary School – Implementation of a mixed media Family Art Night.
New Urban High School – The building of an architectural model – of the high school itself!
North Powellhurst Elementary – A mural made with the students’ handmade ceramic tiles.
PACE Program at Sabin-Schellenberg Center – A community quilting project by pregnant and parenting teens in the school’s American Folk Art unit.
Peninsula K-8 – The purchase of recorders and drums for the school’s first music program in 12 years.
Rowe Middle School - A mural based on actual, uncompleted Depression-era sketches of WPA artist Louis Freund.
Sunrise Middle School – Sponsorship for student attendance of the Male Ensemble Northwest choir camp.
2007 - 2008 GRANT RECIPIENTS
- ACT at Roosevelt High School and Renee Straube (Portland) for the creation of clay mask sculptures exploring culture and identity
Metropolitan Learning Center and Ned Hascall (Portland) for a collaborative photography project between Lent Elementary and MLC titled “What I See,” in which both schools present photos at Froelick Gallery examining students’ daily lives
Bridger Elementary School and Erica Lindgren (Portland) for the purchase of glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones and hand drums
Rosa Parks Elementary and Jan Bilodeaux (Portland) for books and supplies toward the 5th grade class sculpture and performance exploring notable American Artists
Pioneer School and Michael Laframboise (Lebanon) for a Northwest Children’s Theater residency
Lewis Elementary School and Anthony Jamesbarry (Portland) for the purchase of hand drums and African drums
Renaissance Arts Academy and Melody Rockwell (Portland) for the creation and publication of books written by students
Riverside Elementary School and Betsy Williamson (Milwaukie) for the creation of experiential “Artful Artists” kits
Creston Elementary and Anne Murphy (Portland) for an Earth Day performance
Marysville Elementary and Barbara Liles (Portland) for song-based picture books
Gilbert Heights Elementary and Kathleen Lower (Portland) for the attendance of a “Go, Dog, Go” theater performance
Woodlawn Elementary and Jeremy Thomas (Portland) for the creation of a garden mural
Aloha High School and Matthew Fox (Aloha) for a Diversity Week documentary
Portland realtor pledges to SHARE commissions
Ross Seligman, a real estate broker with Windermere, believes that arts education is vital for our society. To help fund this education, he contributes $100 from every real estate transaction to Artists For The Arts. Find out more about Ross Seligman Real Estate offerings with Windermere.
When he is not busy representing clients or studying market trends, Ross Seligman is a performer himself; from September 25 – October 21, 2007, he is part of the Portland Center Stage production of “Cabaret.”
Testimonials
“I was one of those kids who was different. Diagnosed ‘hyperactive’, precursor to ADHD, I didn’t relate to other children and was an outcast. I experienced the world on a sensory level and it felt crushing and big. I had imaginary friends in imaginary places - drawn on anything that would take a pencil or crayon. Math didn’t make sense to me - until much later when I made peace with it and began to approach it intuitively. I won my first art competition in 3rd grade. When I started Junior High, I was introduced to daily art education (as opposed to crafts at summer camp). I took art class every school day for 6 years. Art gave me focus and at times was the reason for coming to school. Art is about communication. Art education strengthens problem solving and critical thinking skills, builds self confidence and self discipline. Art saves lives.”
“As funding for the arts dries up, a part of our culture is dying. As an artist, art is something you can’t not do; it will manifest itself in positive or negative ways. My work with Artists for the Arts is an opportunity for me to potentially save a young artist’s life. It happened to me.”
Molly Cliff-Hilts, painter and Artists for the Arts board member
“Originally from New Jersey, I knew from a very young age that I needed music in my life. I grew up in suburbia, 45 minutes away from New York City, where the lawns were green and the schools well funded. Thanks to this, in grade school I was given the opportunity to play saxophone in the school band and fell in love with jazz. I can absolutely say that this changed my life forever.”
“Now in Portland, Oregon, which I love dearly, I can’t understand why it is so difficult for the schools to provide a high level of arts education to students. It doesn’t seem to matter what studies say about arts education increasing the intelligence of children across the board, etc. The arts are still treated like a form of unimportant entertainment when, in fact, they are essential to a child’s development. This is why I am involved with AFTA.”
“I contribute to AFTA in a few different ways. I am now the guitarist and songwriter for the symphonic rock band “Echo Helstrom”, and jazz trio “Echo Jazz Trio.” We donate a percentage of proceeds from events to AFTA. In addition to this, I am a real estate agent with Windermere, and I donate a portion of each transaction to AFTA. In this way I can help provide Portland students with the arts education that was so essential to my own development.”
Ross Seligman, musician and Artists for the Arts volunteer
“I was introduced to AFTA almost 5 years ago by a mutual friend and fellow arts advocate. I had just completed Portland Business Alliances’ Leadership Portland Program and had participated in the Portland Schools Foundation’s Principal for a Day program. A professional in the arts and creative services industry, I was already a supporter of a regional plan with an creative economy emphasis, but it was through those programs that my beliefs came to embrace arts in education as a key component.”
“It became clear to me that participating in the arts has a direct impact on one’s development as an efficient problem solver, innovative thinker and well-rounded, confident, balanced person. Like many others, I understand that limited access to art programs in our schools puts individual students and our community at a great disadvantage.”
“I have been involved in helping raise money and awareness for arts and music in the schools through AFTA ever since. It’s motivating to see the impact a small grant can make in the classroom of an informed educator. It’s an investment we should all take seriously.”
Heidi McBride, Heidi McBride Gallery and Art Consultancy
CD Sales to benefit AFTA
Darrell Grant (an amazing musician whose just-released CD is #38 on the jazz charts right now) has committed to giving $5.00 of every one of his new “Truth and Reconciliation” CD’s to non profit partners.
Get a great CD and support the arts and nonprofit efforts in your community!
http://darrellgrant.com/truth_and_reconciliation_project
