| Community
Programs with PAE
Skiddy
Park Summer Arts Program
PAE coordinated
a 6-week arts initiative at
Skiddy Park on Syracuse’s
West Side this summer, providing
arts activities on Fridays
to support the ongoing summer
program in the park. With
funding from the CNY Community
Foundation and support from
Syracuse City Parks, Recreation
& Youth Programs, three
teaching artists worked with
up to 60 children weekly,
ranging in age from 3 to 15.
Additionally, college interns
from the Action Initiative
Youth Employment Program assisted
the artists.
Children
work on sketches with TA Chris
Barrett.
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Three professional artists
with experience in arts in education
spent Friday afternoons at Skiddy Park,
near Blodgett School, teaching arts
workshops in painting/ murals, handmade
folk instruments, fiber arts, and Tinikling
(Filipino pole dancing) as an additional
offering to the Syracuse Parks, Recreation
& Youth Programs scheduled events
for children this summer.
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Wilson Akuamoah-Boateng
is former professor of education
in Ghana, specializing in
textile/fibers and fabric
dyes.
Chris Barrett
is a visual artist, a NYS
certified art specialist,
a member of the 40-Below Public
Arts Taskforce, and teaching
artist.
Patti Clark
Heath has been a teaching
artist in the Blodgett School
21st Century Afterschool program
for several years, working
with K-6 students in a variety
of music and dance programs.
Fiber
artist Wilson Akuamoah-Boateng
helps a child with her weaving.
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College
student interns assisted in
the facilitation. The interns
have all been participants in
On Point for College and were
enrolled in the Action Initiative
Youth Employment Program summer
mentorship program. It is a
part of ongoing programming
provided by Mercy Works, Inc.,
and was founded by Paul Nojaim,
a strong advocate for youth
at risk and community action.
Intern
and young artist
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Akuamoah-Boateng
and children work together on
a large-scale macrame weaving. |
TA Patti
Clark-Heath sticks for children
learning Filipino tinikling
folk dancing.
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Primary funding was
provided by the Central New York Community
Foundation with support for snacks
for the children from Nojaim Brothers
Supermarket and National Grid. Supplies
provided by Syracuse Parks, Recreation
& Youth Programs and the Syracuse
City School District. Coordination
of the artists and the overall project
was an initiative of Partners for
Arts Education.
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