Exploring The Arts Inc

FOUNDED BY LEGENDARY SINGER TONY BENNETT AND HIS WIFE, SUSAN BENEDETTO, THE MISSION OF EXPLORING THE ARTS (ETA) IS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH ARTS EDUCATION, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM BUILD QUALITY, IN-SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS AND TO INCREASE OUT-OF-SCHOOL ARTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS. ETA CURRENTLY SERVES 38 PARTNER SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES.

THE 4-YEAR PLAN: IN 2020-2021, ETA RECRUTITED SIX NEW PARTNER SCHOOLS IN NYC AND CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE PRINCIPALS OF THE ACTIVE SCHOOLS IN LA COUNTY. BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC CURTAILED IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITIY ETA FOCUSED ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTS TEACHERS THROUGH BI-COASTAL VIRTUAL GATHERINGS AS WELL AS SOME EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY PURCHASES TOWARD THEIR ARTS GOALS. EACH PLAN IS UNIQUE, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT A PRINCIPAL-LED VISION, CENTERED ON CLEARLY ARTICULATED GOALS. ETA PROGRAM STAFF WORK AS CONSULTANTS TO PRINCIPALS, HELPING THEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A STRATEGIC, STEP-BY-STEP, SUSTAINABLE PLAN, WITH BUILT-IN ASSESSMENT, AND A PRACTICAL BUDGET. FUNDS CAN BE USED TO PAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS IN A PLAN: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR TEACHERS; PLANNING TIME FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT; IN-SCHOOL ARTIST RESIDENCIES; CLASS FIELD TRIPS; THE PURCHASE OF ARTS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. THE PROJECTED IMPACT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS TWOFOLD: (A) TO PROVIDE MORE RIGOROUS, STANDARDS-BASED ARTS TRAINING AND INCREASED ENGAGEMENT WITH CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS TO TRADITIONALLY UNDER-SERVED STUDENTS WHO HAVE LACKED ACCESS TO SUCH OPPORTUNITIES; AND (B) TO EMPOWER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN QUALITY ARTS PROGRAMS IN THE FACE OF PUBLIC BUDGET CUTS AND MANDATED CURRICULUM AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS. AS A PARTNER OF THE KENNEDY CENTER'S TURNAROUND ARTS PROGRAM, ETA WORKS WITH FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE BRONX AS PART OF THESE 4 YEAR PLAN ENDEAVORS.

ETA'S ARTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP DEMYSTIFY THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD FOR STUDENTS WHO ASPIRE TO WORK IN THE ARTS AND CONNECT THEM WITH MENTORS IN THEIR FIELD OF INTEREST. WHILE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN OFTEN IDENTIFY CLEAR STEPS TOWARD A CAREER IN LAW, MEDICINE, OR EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE OFTEN UNSURE OF HOW TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE ARTS AND STRUGGLE WITH FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY IN THE FACE OF THEIR DREAMS. THE PROGRAM WAS ALSO DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM WILL BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTEND COLLEGE, WITH AN EXPANDED NETWORK OF TRUSTED, COLLEGE-EDUCATED ADULTS. IN 2020-2021, THE PROGRAM SERVED 37 STUDENTS AND ARTS PARTNERS IN NY AND CA THROUGH VIRTUAL 1:1 MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND GROUP WORKSHOPS.

LANG ART SCHOLARS PROGRAM: THROUGH A MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT BY THE EUGENE M. LANG FOUNDATION, OVER THE SPAN OF THREE YEARS, THE PROGRAM ENGAGES TRUSTED CULTURAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE ARTISTIC, CRAFT-BASED TRAINING TO A SELECT COHORT OF ETA PARTNER SCHOOL TEENS, WHO ALSO PARTICIPATE IN ETA'S CAREFULLY CURATED CURRICULUM OF ACTIVITIES PROVIDING TARGETED COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATORY SUPPORT. STRONGLY ALIGNED WITH ETA'S MISSION, EXPERTISE, AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORK, THE INITIATIVE IS ALSO WELL-ALIGNED WITH NEW YORK CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE CULTURAL PLAN, CREATENYC," WORKING TOWARD A MORE DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE, AND EQUITABLE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.

OTHER PROGRAMMING: NETWORK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY GATHERINGS TO BOLSTER THE CAPACITY OF ARTS TEACHERS.