YOUR VOICE IS YOUR SUPPORT
Go to www.CuriousAndCreative.com and tell us
WHAT HAS CREATIVITY DONE FOR YOU?
We will be producing a poster with comments to support
awareness and funding for future programming.
Opening Event
September 23rd 6-8 pm
Conrad Hotel
50 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana
What would we be missing without creative minds?
Where would we be without creative minds?
Amid
the harsh reality of education budget cuts in Indiana, arts programs are
commonly the first programs reduced or removed in schools. Alternative solutions are being created in
some communities so that students can still have access to the arts. And now, one Indianapolis-based group is not
only keeping the arts alive for area students, but is working with a renowned
five star hotel to allow them the ultimate showing of their work.
Over
the last two years, over $300 million
has been cut from education budgets in Indiana.
In many school corporations, programs such as fine arts, music, band and
dance have been scaled back or cut entirely due to these cuts. Many communities have relied on museums,
churches, after-school programs, community centers or other volunteers for
alternative outlets. One example is
Jenny Kiser, a teacher in Lewisville, Indiana, who sought out a grant to run an
art program that applies art into other areas of academics. A particular lesson may be utilizing Andy
Warhol’s classic “soup cans” works to illustrate cylinders for
mathematics. Similar type programs have
popped up all over the state to try to help with the lack of arts, but in other
areas students are still being deprived.
Art with a Heart is a non-profit organization started in 2002 by an art teacher,
Carol Conrad, and several of her supportive friends and co-workers. Their dream and mission was to expose art to
at-risk children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to do anything
artistic. Almost a decade later, the
organization serves over 1,200 children each year through after-school
programs, honors art classes, week-long summer camps and even Kindergarten
classes.
“While
being able to express themselves creatively is fun and rewarding to the kids,”
explains Executive Director Andrew Lee, “most importantly, our programs also
incorporate educational components such as problem solving and critical
thinking skills.”
Earlier
this year, Lee made the acquaintance of two art consultants in the city, who
were impressed with the organization and their mission. GK Rowe is the creative director for Q7 Associates, an Indianapolis marketing and experience design firm. Chris Mallon is the owner of Editions Limited, a well-renowned art gallery in Broad Ripple. Both Mallon and Rowe have served as curators
for the Conrad Hotel over the last two years, planning quarterly shows in The
Alcove at the Conrad, a unique event space inside the hotel.
