History and Purpose
Since 2001, the Jackson School of the Arts mission is to make the arts accessible to Jackson County youth regardless of income. The work of including, finding and providing programs to students not served anywhere else is at the center of the Jackson School of the Arts efforts. In September 2007 the “school” relocated to the ART 634 building next to Armory Arts Village.
A Profile of the Youth We Serve
We serve all youth by providing high quality low cost out-of-school programs for ages 2 1/2 to 17 in art, dance and theater. 32% of the youth we serve are from single parent households and 22% are minority. 82% of the youth we serve are on scholarship or are paying at the lowest levels of the income scale. In 2009 we provided 47scholarships.
Benefits to Youth
Research conclusively shows that the visual and performing arts play an essential role in how children learn in all other subjects. The act of artistic creation expands and inspires young minds. An education rich in the arts is critical to the full intellectual, emotional, and social development of children - further, successful out-of-school programs have demonstrated that frequent access to and participation in the arts helps decrease and prevent negative behaviors in at-risk youth.
Programs and Classes
The Jackson School of the Arts offers programs for all ages and levels in the visual and
performing arts in art, dance and theater. This past year, we employed 18 artist instructors.
In 2009, we provided after school arts programs for Cascades, McCulloch, Parkside, Bennett, Northeast Schools with Jackson Public Schools. We also provided arts programs to children in 15 off-site after school arts clubs around Jackson County.
We offered Family Art Days the 2nd Sunday of each month—an opportunity for families and their children to create together. Three were free thanks to Target.
We collaborated with ART 634 in running the 2nd Annual Fairy Festival, Fall and Holiday Fest.
In total we made the arts accessible to 695 children.
How We Are Funded
The Jackson School of the Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. We seek funding from foundations, businesses and individuals in our community to help off set the high cost of quality arts programming. We make the arts accessible by making it affordable for families. Our fees are based on a sliding fee family income scale. We help provide transportation and supply dance wear , shoes and other needed materials.
To Find Out More
Call Executive Director, Kim Hastings 784-2389 or kimh.jacksonarts@sbcglobal.net
