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Dominion Energy Honors Arts for Learning with ArtStars Award!

January 27, 2021 By Cindy Sherwood

Woo-hoo! It’s a happy day here at Arts for Learning, as we were thrilled to receive the Dominion Energy ArtStars Award for Eastern Virginia last night at the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ live virtual conference. Dominion Energy presented the award, which comes with a $10,000 prize, for A4L’s “Take 10” digital programming, recognizing the project’s innovation, enterprise, and artistic quality.

When Virginia’s schools shut down last March, more than 350 hours of our programming was canceled, threatening our mission to connect students with the power of the arts. But our mission was not interrupted. Within days, the Arts for Learning office in Norfolk was transformed into a makeshift recording studio, artists took a leap of faith and tried something new, and our program team figured it out on the fly, including how to shoot and edit video while following strict safety protocols required by the global pandemic. The result: 118 ten-minute video segments that served as engaging and educational art breaks for students and families who were suddenly thrust into remote learning.

Take 10 was a major team effort,” says Christine Everly, CEO of Arts for Learning. “We had no budget, no prior expertise, and no production studio—but we knew we had to find a way around those obstacles. Especially during the COVID crisis with students learning at home, we needed to reach them through the power of the arts. And we also wanted to provide some income for our artists who suddenly found themselves unemployed.”

Participating artists received stipends for their work on Take 10. The program ended in June, but Arts for Learning’s commitment to quality virtual arts programming did not. Thanks to an investment in new video technology and additional training for staff and artists, Arts for Learning now offers dozens of virtual arts experiences to schools, libraries, and community centers. The $10,000 ArtStars’ prize money will support Arts for Learning’s efforts to continue to build a digital library of engaging and innovative new programming to connect students with the arts, wherever and however they are being schooled.

Filed Under: Arts Integration, ArtsEd, COVID-19, News, Press Releases, Virtual Learning, Virtual programming Tagged With: 757 arts, 757 nonprofit, arts education, ArtStars Award, coronavirus, digital programming, Dominion Energy, Take 10, virtual learning, virtual programming

YOU DID IT… and we can’t thank you enough!

May 13, 2020 By Cindy Sherwood

Last week on #GivingTuesdayNow, the world came together to present a united front of hope, generosity, and kindness in a time when many are still realizing the impact created by the COVID-19 pandemic. At Arts for Learning, you stepped up to our double-the-dollars $2,500 gift match from one of our amazing board members.

WE MET OUR GOAL AND MORE!

Our Artistic and Education Manager Aaron Kirkpatrick has a special message for all who donated and how you’re helping students receive critical arts-in-education programming, even with schools shut down in Virginia. Watch here on our YouTube channel.

Even in this crisis, we need to fulfill our mission and keep making art. If you didn’t have a chance to donate, please consider doing so now: Donate here!

 

Filed Under: ArtsEd Tagged With: 757 arts, 757 nonprofit, Arts for Learning Virginia, arts integration, arts learning, arts-in-education, coronavirus, Covid-19, donations, gift match, Giving Tuesday Now, nonprofit, Young Audiences

Take 10 to the Rescue

May 5, 2020 By Cindy Sherwood

For parents of the million-plus Virginia students who are now learning from home, it’s been a challenge—juggling working with childcare duties with trying to help kids with schoolwork. We all have newfound appreciation for our teachers!

 

Most of Arts for Learning’s staff members understand because they’re in the same boat. Chief Operations Officer Anna Heywood Green has an extra busy job managing our A4L program team, while supervising remote-learning for her fourth-grade daughter Mara who attends a Norfolk public elementary school.

Recently, Mara was having a hard day—overwhelmed by class work and a deadline to get it done. Anna heard her crying in her room so called for her to come out and chat. Anna had a suggestion for a quick mood booster—watching a Take 10 video together on Facebook.

“She stops crying instantly and says, ‘Can I’? So I get everything set up and we watched Cindy and Shelly’s Earth Day video together. We sang, she told me about the rain forest, she ‘corrected’ their program, and she did all the hand motions.”

Anna then let Mara design her Facebook “comment,” with emojis that showed an appropriate flair for the artistic.

After posting the comment, Anna asked if Mara felt better. She did—and got back to work in her room.

Do you and your kids need a break from a long monotonous day at home? You can watch our Take 10 videos anytime on our YouTube channel, with music, dance, storytelling, crafts, and more to choose from.

Like what you see? We’re paying our artists to create Take 10 videos, but we don’t receive any money to produce them. Can you give $10 to Take 10? Donate here!

Filed Under: ArtsEd Tagged With: 757 arts, 757 nonprofit, Arts for Learning Virginia, arts integration, arts learning, arts-in-education, coronavirus, Covid-19, creative learning, digital learning, Earth Day, education, home-schooling, nonprofit, Norfolk Public Schools, Take 10, virtual learning, Young Audiences, YouTube videos

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

RAISE Up in Hampton City Schools

“As a teaching artist, when we meet a kid, they’re a whole entire person. They have experiences and not all those experiences are pleasant, so coming to the classroom with that mindset and knowing that they carry baggage with them as do we… it’s about approaching them with compassion but also recognizing that they’re more […]

Join the A4L Mailing List!

Sign up to receive the latest news on arts integration from Arts for Learning! Thank you for supporting arts-in-education.

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Arts for Learning Virginia. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
At Arts for Learning Virginia, we’re proud to be part of the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Passport Program. While Passport holders typically receive free admission and 50% off classes at participating organizations, all our programming is always free—no discount needed. To learn more about our public events, check out our calendar of events page here.

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