About Arts to Grow

About Arts to Grow

changing children's lives

by inspiring them to love learning

 

Arts to Grow works with schools and community organizations in the NY/NJ metro area to provide art programs that change children's lives, inspiring them to love to learn and helping them discover their personal, intrinsic motivation. The programs are highly tailored to meet the specific needs of each group of children. Classes in the performing, visual and literary arts are taught by professional Teaching Artists- experienced educators who actively practice their art form.

 

 

 PS 75                                                     Photo Credit: Bill Stanton

  • Launched in 2005, Arts to Grow has since partnered with 14 public schools and community organizations (and 50 more are on a waiting list)

  • Arts to Grow has offered 60 high quality programs to over 1200 children

  • Arts to Grow now also serves children and young adults with special needs

 

The Need                                               The Solution

• In New York City, hundreds of            • Students who participate in

thousands of public school children         comprehensive, sequential and

have little or no access to the arts*         rigorous arts program show:

• Under-funding and increasing                     >an 85% increase in

focus on test taking leaves little                     communications skills;

room for arts education: the ratio                  >a 50% decrease in new

of licensed arts specialists to                         court referrals;

students in NYC public schools                      >an increased ability to

>Dance 1 : 6,626                                         complete tasks

>Theater 1 : 7,189                                      >and higher rates of

>Music 1 : 1,154                                         academic success

>Visual Arts 1 : 836                          • ATG's free neighborhood-based

• In 2009, the average poverty          programs target "at-risk" urban

rate of students attending Arts           youth and offers them a safe and

to Grow programs in Brooklyn            high quality opportunity outside

and Harlem was 79.8%.                    school hours to experience 

                                                      personal success despite negative

                                                      influences such as gangs,

                                                      substance abuse and crime.

                                                      • ATG emphasizes strong,
                                                      influential relationships
                                                      between students, teaching
                                                      artists, classroom teachers,
                                                      program leaders and
                                                      administrators. These
                                                      relationships are proven
                                                      to engage children in
                                                      learning, creating mentoring
                                                      relationships that build
                                                      self confidence and
                                                      leadership skills. 

 

 

Sample Programs

Recognition by Leaders in the Field

 

Key Milestones and Events

  • 378 kids were served during the 2009-2010 school year.

  • In June 2010, Arts to Grow's Founder/Executive Director published an OpEd piece in the Chronicle of Philanthropy entitled: Skilled Volunteers Can Help Charities Get Results and Stretch Slim Budgets (link to article)

  • Since launching a pilot program in September 2005, Arts to Grow's portfolio of partners has grown from three to 14 public schools and community organizations.

  • In October 2009, we launched our first year-long partnerships with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, LearningSpring School, and City Access New York.

  • Fall 2009 marked our expansion into serving young people with special needs. We are happy to welcome LearningSpring School and City Access New York as new partners.

  • Over 50 public schools and community organizations are on a waiting list for our programs.

  • Each dollar donated to ATG is highly leveraged by the unpaid work of skilled volunteers. Since our launch in 2005, we've had help from more than 150 professionals.

  • Arts to Grow held its third annual gala was held in May 2010 at the CUE Art Foundation in Manhattan's Chelsea art district. Over 125 people attended this hugely successful event MC'ed by WCBS-TV news anchor Kristine Johnson. Advanced Benefit Advisors was the events top corporate sponsor, and more than 40 companies contributed goods and services including over 20 Silent Auction items.

  • Arts to Grow was featured in a five-minute segment "Newsmakers" in December 2007 on the Comcast Cable Network.

Our Growth, Our Success, Our Future

Compiled from the following sources:
(IS 171, CEP Section II School Profile Part B: School Demographics and Accountability Snapshot (Version 2009-1A-March 2009), 2009)
(IS 302, CEP Section II School Profile Part B: School Demographics and Accountability Snapshot (Version 2009-1A-March 2009), 2009)
(PS 7, CEP Section II School Profile Part B: School Demographics and Accountability Snapshot (Version 2009-1A-March 2009), 2009)
(PS 75, CEP Section II School Profile Part B: School Demographics and Accountability Snapshot (Version 2009-1A-March 2009), 2009)
(PS 125 Ralph Bunche, CEP Section II School Profile Part B: School Demographics and Accountability Snapshop (Version 2010-1B-March 2009), 2009)
* Study by the Center for Arts Education, New York City (2007, Strategic Plan)