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In Their Own Words: 5th Graders Talk Lessons Learned from the Community Creators in STEAM Residency

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At the conclusion of the Community Creators in STEAM residency in Newport News, we talked with students about their experiences. Words that came up repeatedly were “teamwork,” “friends,” “fun,” and “help.”

Mutaz: “I learned that I can do stuff that I thought I couldn’t do. I learned that I should never give up or think that I can’t do something because I still can do it.”

Aniyla: “We worked really hard on our projects, and so I’m really proud of our group and of myself.”

Andy: “I learned if you work together, it’s better because you can get more trust and people will respect you and you get new friends. And if you do stuff together it’s faster and you can make it better and you can have a fun time while doing it.”

Arabella: “We worked together and had so much fun in the process. I think I learned more about the artistic process. You have to start with getting your plan and drawing it out… you can make a small one and then all come together and build a big one like we did here.” 

Naomi: “I learned how we can help people and how we can support our city.”

Joshua: “I learned to always keep going, even when things are going badly. Because we had little mistakes, but we got it to work.”

Aisha Noel, Arts for Learning’s Programs and Community Engagement Manager, spoke eloquently at the reception of the hard work and thought students put into the Community Creators in STEAM residency:

“The fifth-grade students at McIntosh Elementary School along with residency steward and teaching artists have spent the last nine weeks using the artistic and engineering design process to address a social issue in their community.

The students chose to focus on the issue of homelessness and build a respite for those facing housing insecurity. The items built represent what makes a house a home and what can provide people with dignity. And the students even felt that the unhoused deserve nothing less than luxurious items such as a grill, sofa, plush bed, and yes, a garden tub. These items meant that the unhoused had a respite no matter the cost. Tangible items didn’t come with a cost value but a comfort value. These basic and luxurious necessities mattered to the students. It mattered that those facing housing insecurity had a place to not only take a hot bath but also have a hot meal.

It was also important to the students that art was displayed around the house to give a sense of comfort and ownership. Throughout this project the students made intentional design choices from the color of the walls to the design layout. They wanted those facing this insecurity to feel welcomed.

Throughout this project the students were supported by the dedicated staff at Arts for Learning and dynamic speakers from Newport News Shipbuilding and the founder of Ezer Initiative. Most importantly the students were supported by their school community. It has truly been a privilege to partner with McIntosh Elementary School. The school community embraced this project as a whole. Every visit was met with admiration from staff on the student’s artwork.”

Fifth-grader Joshua says he’s now interested in becoming a shipbuilder when he grows up. And he had a profound message about his experience:

I learned you could build art out of anything.”

Enjoy this slideshow of highlights from the reception and more from the Community Creators in STEAM residency:

Thanks to the adults who guided the students: teaching artists James Cooper and Asiko-oluwa Aderin; emerging teaching artist Brandy Lee; and McIntosh residency steward Tiffany Murchison.

Arts for Learning thanks Huntington Ingalls/Newport News Shipbuilding  for underwriting this residency, which was provided at no cost to students and their families. Additional community support was provided by Newport News Public Schools Fine Arts and STEM supervisors  and the Newport News Arts Commission. 

Story Hour with Mark Twain: Free, Family – Friendly Entertainment at the Z

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“The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
Mark Twain

Mark Twain lives, at least for an afternoon in Virginia Beach this November. Kicking off a new Family Time Performance series at the Zeiders American Dream Theater, Arts for Learning’s Ryan Clemens will perform as his famous relative, Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.

Clemens will present Story Hour with Mark Twain on Saturday, November 18 at 2 p.m. at the Z, located at 4509 Commerce Street in Virginia Beach.

Tickets are free at this link:
Story Hour with Mark Twain

“The Z is such a terrific place for performers like myself to offer our special gifts,” says Ryan Clemens. “I’ve been performing as Mark Twain for decades, and I’m excited to bring him to meet the good folks at Virginia Beach’s own Zeiders American Dream Theater. It’s Mark Twain as you would have met him when he came to visit our area in 1907. He’s full of tall tales, jokes, maybe a ghost story or two, and lots of playful audience banter. Whether you’re 10 years old or 110, you’re sure to enjoy an hour with my jovial, old cousin.”

Story Hour with Mark Twain is part of the Family Time Series, a partnership between Arts for Learning and the Z to provide entertaining, family-oriented programming. Future performances include Orisirisi African Folklore and Roberta Lea in February and storyteller Sarah Osburn Brady in April. Programs will be presented by Arts for Learning’s roster of professional artists who use their art forms to educate and engage audiences while actively exploring artistic traditions and cultures from around the world.

“Our artists are excited for the partnership with Zeiders American Dream Theater,” says Drew Lusher, Arts for Learning’s Artist programming Manager. “In addition to being a modern and inviting performance venue, Zeiders is an energetic organization with a mission that parallels ours. We appreciate the opportunity to pair our performing artists with their beautiful space to further engage the community and inspire creative growth.”

Arts for Learning thanks the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, Helen G. Gifford Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts for underwriting A4L’s Family Time Series at the Z.

Sparking Joy

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At our Sunshine Beach Party event recently, we paid tribute to two long-time musicians, Steve Ambrose and Janet Kriner, who have retired after decades of service. One of the special moments during the event came when Board of Directors’ member Linda Dennis spoke about how Janet has inspired her as a musician. As a cellist, Janet was an original member of the Feldman Quartet in the 1950s—the quartet’s performances were the very earliest version of Young Audiences of Virginia, now known as Arts for Learning.

Linda, who’s been a board member for about eight years, retired in 2016 after teaching music in Norfolk Public Schools for 30 years. She’s a violinist in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra where she played with Janet for decades, but the two first encountered one another when Linda was growing up in Norfolk.

“My life was anything but privileged. It’s very unlikely that I would have encountered a string quartet as a child,” Linda says. “I grew up in a very working-class neighborhood, working-class schools. It’s just not something that my family did. One day when I was in the fourth grade, a string quartet came to our school for a performance, and they were from Young Audiences. Janet probably was in that quartet. I was just fascinated with this ensemble, and I fell in love with the violin myself.”

In fifth grade, Linda started playing the violin at her elementary school. When she was 13, she attended a week-long summer orchestra camp, which was new to the area. Janet worked with the student musicians as a cellist specialist, and she made a big impression on Linda.

“I just thought she was the happiest person I had ever met. She always had a smile on her face. She just seemed like she was filled with joy. She was excited to work with us. It didn’t seem to be a burden for her. She thoroughly enjoyed it. And she sparked enthusiasm with the kids as well.”

Throughout the years, Linda continued to interact with Janet as she guided young musicians, including serving as a coach for the Tidewater Youth Orchestra (now Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia where Linda played violin. But after earning a spot in the Virginia Symphony in college, Linda saw a different side of Janet, who was principal cellist.

“She had a professional persona and then a student persona. Students got all the inspiration and happiness and joy, but as a professional, she was a tough cookie. She was demanding of her section, and she was a perfectionist,” Linda says. “I loved seeing that you could be both. You could be a student advocate, kind and understanding and patient, but then you had standards for yourself, and I really respected that in her.

“She is like gold to this area. She’s just a gem. She’s done so much for kids and for teachers too. She’s inspirational to the teachers.”

Linda’s experience playing the violin when she was young—and the joy she witnessed in Janet—motivated her to teach music.

“I knew the joy that I felt as a child… it’s not an opportunity that I expected. And it just really changed the course of my life. So whatever I can do to give back and give some other child that experience that’s what I wanted to do.”

Linda gives back in a different way on Arts for Learning’s board. As someone who first enjoyed a Young Audiences’ performance 55 years ago, she appreciates the ways in which our organization has evolved over the decades, such as incorporating Virginia’s Standards of Learning into its programs.

“I really love the way [Arts for Learning] works so hard to build programs to give the students exactly what they need. I think that the way we’ve transitioned over the years to give students exactly what they need, exactly when they need it, is quite a service to the community.”

At Arts for Learning, we want to express our thanks to both Linda and Janet—two individuals who have contributed so much to the school, arts, and nonprofit communities throughout the years.

Are you interested in serving on the Arts for Learning board? We’re always searching for dedicated arts advocates who are leaders in their fields. If you’d like more information, please contact CEO Chris Everly at CEO@Arts4LearningVA.org.

Major News: Arts for Learning Becomes the Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap Affiliate

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We’re… thrilled… honored… happy… ecstatic… overjoyed… and delighted to announce we’re now partnering with the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. As the Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap affiliate, we’ll bring customized arts-based teaching and learning programs to early childhood classrooms.

“Our teaching artists have the opportunity to be trained in the Wolf Trap method, which focuses on bringing arts-integrated strategies into the classrooms of our youngest learners,” said Drew Lusher, Arts for Learning Artist and Programming Manager and Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap Affiliate Director. “We’re excited to foster this work in our community.”

The affiliate program is operated under Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, a program of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts based in Vienna, Virginia.

Last week, four teaching artists on our roster received paid training to learn creative, interactive techniques of how to work with children in preschool and kindergarten classrooms. Wolf Trap Master Artist Trainer Christina Farrell showed how to incorporate song, movement, imaginative play, and musical instruments into lessons that introduce key curricular concepts such as literacy and social-emotional learning.

The training sessions were held at Children’s Harbor Ghent where the teaching artists had the opportunity to practice what they learned with young learners.

“I greatly appreciated observing Christina with the kids,” said Arts for Learning’s Amelia Zontini. “Each day they bloomed a little more. On my way out to my car on Friday, Miss Destiny and some kids opened their door and cried out, ‘Thank you!’ What a special experience for us all.”

Teaching artists who participated last week were Ryan Clemens, Jennifer Graham, Dylan Pritchett, and Amelia Zontini.

Arts for Learning’s Cindy Aitken, James Cooper, Via Goode, and Roberta Lea will undergo training in September.

Initially, Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap will deliver services in Norfolk, but will branch out to other Hampton Roads’ communities in future academic years. Our Wolf Trap-trained teaching artists will partner with early childhood education classroom teachers, illustrating how they can use the performing arts to engage children, enrich their learning, and reinforce the curriculum. Through multi-day residencies, our teaching artists will work one-on-one with classroom teachers to create custom lesson plans using proven, arts-based learning experiences.

We couldn’t be happier (or more elated… excited… glad… eager… tickled pink… you name it!) to enter into this partnership and join Wolf Trap’s network of 24 affiliates across the United States and Singapore. Thank you to all who made last week’s first training such a success!

Talking with Dañetta Evans, our New Artist and Programming Manager

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When Dañetta Evans decided to pursue the arts as a career, she says there was no “plan B”; she was committed to pursuing her passion, no matter what. She may not have been able to predict exactly where that determination would land her, but we’re happy to say it’s brought her to Arts for Learning as our new Artist and Programming Manager.

Dañetta is originally from Alabama where she earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations/marketing at Alabama State University and later received her associate of arts degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Tennessee. She moved to Hampton Roads to attend graduate school at Norfolk State, where she first earned a Master of Art in Visual Studies and later her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies.

While at NSU, she became interested in participatory art and how data collection can aid in community development and engagement. Then, she says, she wanted to learn more about the effectiveness of STEAM (Science Tech Engineering Arts Math) education. “I created some classes to see how effective it was and did the research in how STEAM and STEM worked and how I could add something to it.”

She also was the liaison between her classmates and the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Virginia when the club wanted NSU art graduate students to create various art classes for different clubs. She loved it—“Not only did I get to do my own artwork, but I got to see the change in the students and the change in my classmates too.”

The art education part of it—it just took my heart. I saw firsthand the character development that took place in the students from the beginning of class to the end of class. I decided then—while I’ll always be a practicing visual artist, the education part was super important.”

Organizing community art events was a major part of NSU’s program. Among other projects, Dañetta helped organize pop-up shops at the NEON Festival in Norfolk, participatory art at the Hermitage Museum, and a 93-foot-long mural inspired by African American history that’s located inside Calvary Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.

At Arts for Learning, Dañetta’s role is to work with the artists on our roster to help develop innovative arts education. Creating community—as she worked to do at Norfolk State—is a major priority.

“I love to create community with our artists, when we come together, share resources, and if I can offer any sort of professional development. And also add to the roster—where do we need some extra artists to help step in?”

Those are the big goals: create community and grow the roster.”

If you’re an artist who’s interested in joining our roster, please click here for details on how to apply.

Fun Facts about Dañetta: She loves trains, especially the sounds they make. And she collect sounds. “Most of the time they’re stored on my phone so if I’m walking around and I hear something, I’ll record it. I think it started when I lived in Nashville. I walked out of a museum and the church bells were going and I thought, ‘Man, I really like that sound.’ So I just started recording it and continued to record the sounds.” And as an artist, who knows? She says “someday I’ll do something bigger with it.”

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Main Office
Arts for Learning
420 North Center Drive
Suite 239
Norfolk, Virginia 23502
Phone: 757-466-7555

Main Office

Arts for Learning Virginia
420 North Center Drive
Suite 239
Norfolk, Virginia 23502
Phone:
757-466-7555

A Force for the Arts: Honoring Minette Cooper

In Hampton Roads, the arts are a living, breathing presence—heard in the rhythm of a drum circle, seen in a dancer’s arc across a school gym, felt in the hush that follows a poem. Few people did more to ensure those moments could happen than Minette Cooper. Her leadership, vision, and relentless belief in the […]