National PTA Awards National Arts Enhancement Grants

National PTA Awards Arts Enhancement Grants
Eleven recipients across the country share honors

CHICAGO (September 15, 2009) – As education budgets tighten, schools may find it tough to keep art programs alive.  That’s why the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is proud to announce the recipients of the national Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant—a matching grant for student-centered arts education programs.

The objective of the grant program is to enhance arts education for students in the classroom or in other learning environments through activities, materials, new technologies, techniques, and visiting artists programs. Historically this grant has been awarded to three schools, however, this year the number has increased to include eleven recipients. This year’s winners are:

• Alderwood PTA in Bellingham, Washington, will create a mural within the school inspired from the work of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The mural will be used to teach the basic elements of art, honor the diversity of the school population, and highlight the Hispanic heritage at this school.

• Bristol Elementary PTA in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will partner with a local theater company to expand its current arts program to also include drama. This program hopes to engage the community in supporting its performances.

• Central Elementary PTA in Pleasant Grove, Utah, will support a variety of in-house arts programs consisting of PTA Art Cart, drama club, Gettysburg Reenactment, dance festival and the school choir.

• Dixon Elementary PTA in Dixon, Missouri, will implement a world culture fair that will educate and invite parents, teachers and students to experience different cultures.

• East Valley Elementary PTA in Fernley, Nevada, will begin a visiting artists program entitled "Adopt an Artist" in which local artists come into the classroom to offer instruction on different forms of art.

• Johnson School of the Arts PTA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will support the continuation of the AHA (Arts Heighten Achieving) program. AHA serves first through fifth graders in before and after-school arts instruction programs.

• Meiners Oaks PTA in Ojai, California, will support the continuation of the Art Trek program. This is a community outreach program in which parents and volunteers go into the classroom to teach hands-on, sequential arts lessons.

• New Scotland Elementary School PTA in Albany, New York, will create a student-orientated AIDS Memorial Quilt Project. The project proposes to display the quilt and donate the final product to the community, as well as fund a field trip to the New York State Museum in Albany.

• Salmen High PTSA in Slidell, Louisiana, will form an after-school arts club which will utilize arts workshops throughout the year in several different disciplines. The arts workshops will culminate in an end of the year arts expo.

• Silver Spring International Middle School PTSA in Silver Spring, Maryland, will supplement a theater workshop with the Shakespeare Theater Co. in the spring of 2010. The workshops will reinforce the importance of theater.

• York High School in Yorktown, Virginia, will support a comprehensive arts program utilizing visiting artists, which will culminate in the celebration of a Youth Art Month in March of 2010.

The grant recipients were chosen based on creativity of the program, and the number of students who are reached.  Special consideration was given to programs centered on helping children whose environmental, familial, and/or socioeconomic situation may affect their academic success or ability to learn.

The grant program complements PTA’s long-standing commitment to quality arts education in public schools by providing funds to local PTAs to establish or enhance school arts programs in one or more arts areas: visual arts, photography, music (including dance), and literature (including theater). Local PTAs must submit complete applications and provide funds that match the amount they are requesting from the National PTA.

About National PTA
PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education health, and welfare of children and youth.