FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


May 29, 2008

Arts in Mind Receives Support from Assemblywoman Christensen

Partners for Arts Education (PAE) is honored to receive support from State Assemblywoman Joan Christensen for the Arts in Mind initiative. The $10,000 grant will be used to enhance and expand the program to provide an excellent cultural education for students, eventually in every school in the district.

Three stakeholder groups (schools, cultural organizations and regional funding institutions) are cooperating through Arts in Mind to develop the capacity of local arts and cultural organizations as resources in partnership with the Syracuse City Schools.

Assemblywoman Christensen also secured funding for Arts in Mind for its 2007-08 pilot year.

"We are so grateful for the continuing support Assemblywoman Christensen has shown for our efforts to bring the arts to classrooms in Syracuse and throughout Central New York," said PAE Executive Director Laura Reeder. "Her support for Arts in Mind will make it possible for cultural organizations and schools to develop partnerships that challenge and inspire Syracuse students."

The Arts in Mind initiative began its pilot phase in September 2007. Four schools (Grant Middle School, McKinley-Brighton Magnet Elementary, Danforth Middle School, and Franklin Magnet Elementary) initiated partnerships with local teaching artists to meet NYS education standards by teaching with and through the arts.

Arts in Mind is planning to expand the number of participating schools to between eight and twelve schools for the 2008 – 09 school year. Nine local cultural organizations have signed on. Besides the funds secured through Assemblywoman Christensen, support has also been received from CNY Community Foundation, Gifford Foundation,  NYS Council on the Arts, and Syracuse Teacher Center.

For more information about Arts in Mind, visit www.artsinmind.net.

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