Barat Foundation Inc

ARTS EDUCATION, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAMS, AND DIY (DO IT YOURSELF) AT HOME OR IN SCHOOL ARTS MAKER KITS.PROGRAMS INCLUDE: ANIMODULE MAKING DIY ANIMODULE MAKER KITS THE CREATION NATION ART & PEACE PARADE MESSAGES THROUGH MURALS ANIMODULE MAKING: THE ANIMODULE IS AN ORIGINAL URBAN ART FORM BORN IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, CREATED BY CHILDREN AND YOUTH UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. IT IS A THREE DIMENSIONAL "ANIMATED" "MODULE" SCULPTURE, FORMED BY NOTCHING TWO FLAT PLANES TOGETHER, TO CREATE A THIRD DIMENSION.THE ANIMODULE CURRICULUM IS AN INTER-DISCIPLINARY ARTS PROGRAM INCLUDING RESEARCH, VISUAL ARTS, LANGUAGE ARTS, AND MATHEMATICS AS STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE SOMETHING LARGER THAN THEMSELVES, AND BUILDING AN ENDURING ART PIECE THAT REPRESENTS THEIR COMMUNITY.ANIMODULES, WHICH AS NEWARK'S OFFICIAL PEACE AMBASSADORS, NORMALLY TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE REGION BRING THEIR MESSAGE OF ART+PEACE+DIVERSITY = SOCIAL JUSTICE, TO FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS WERE GROUNDED THIS YEAR DUE TO THE GLOBAL COVID PANDEMIC AND WHICH WILL BE REINSTATED ONCE COVID GUIDELINES PERMIT. THE ANNUAL CREATION NATION ART & PEACE PARADE AND CREATORS CLUBS WERE SIMILARLY CANCELLED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT WILL BE REINSTATED IN 2022.DESPITE CHALLENGING TIMES, THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO CREATE 3 NEW ANIMODULES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STRICT COVID GUIDELINES, IN 3 HUDSON COUNTY SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAMS WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE BARAT FOUNDATION WAS AWARDED A SECOND GRANT TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL 3 ANIMODULES IN 3 ADDITIONAL HUDSON COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR THE UPCOMING 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR.IN ADDITION, TWO 8 FOOT ALUMINUM ANIMODULES WERE CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH COLAB ARTS IN NEW BRUNSWICK, AND HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN JOYCE KILMER PARK IN NEW BRUNSWICK WHERE THEY ARE VIEWED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH DAY.THE ANIMODULE PROGRAM EMPLOYS NUMEROUS LOCAL ARTISTS WHO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VISION, PASSION AND EXPERTISE WITH YOUTH, WHILE PRODUCING AN IMPRESSIVE BODY OF WORK. THE ANIMODULE CURRICULUM IS IN RELATION TO AND IN SUPPORT OF AGE AND GRADE APPROPRIATE NJ CORE CURRICULUM CONTENT STANDARDS FOR THE ARTS. TO DATE OVER 70 ANIMODULES HAVE BEEN CREATED IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.DIY ANIMODULE MAKER KITS:THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FORCED US TO DRAMATICALLY PIVOT OUR PROGRAMMING TO ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGE OF REACHING OUR TARGET AUDIENCE WITHOUT BEING PHYSICALLY PRESENT ON SITE. IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC AND THE MASS CLOSING OF SCHOOLS, WE DEVELOPED A DIY STEAM ANIMODULE MAKER KIT TO REACH OUR TARGET POPULATION OF URBAN MIDDLE SCHOOL TWEENS WHO WERE AND STILL ARE WORKING FROM HOME IN FRONT OF COMPUTER SCREENS FOR HOURS ON END. USING THE POWER OF ART TO ADDRESS TRAUMA, BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, AND PROMOTE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, OUR DIY KIT IS BASED ON NATIONAL STEAM THEMATIC CURRICULUM STANDARDS. THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF DIY (DO IT YOURSELF) ANIMODULE MAKER KITS ALONG WITH A TEACHER/PARENT/AIDE GUIDE, TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE KIT INCLUDES AN ANIMODULE JOURNAL, DEVELOPED AS A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING TOOL, A MINI-ANIMODULE SCULPTURE TO DESIGN AND PAINT, A PACKAGE OF PERMANENT MARKERS TO PAINT IT WITH, AN ANIMODULE COLORING BOOK, COLOR PENCILS AND A GLUE STICK. THE FIRST PILOT TRIAL OF THESE KITS WENT TO 400 - 5TH GRADE STUDENTS IN 7 NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IN COLLABORATION WITH SUPERINTENDENT ROGER LEON AND HEAD OF ARTS, MARGARET EL. OUR TARGET POPULATION IS MIDDLE SCHOOL, A TRANSITIONAL AND CHALLENGING TIME FOR CHILDREN, AND A CRUCIAL TIME TO PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THE KITS ARE ADDITIONALLY BEING TESTED IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS, AND WILL SOON BE TESTED DIRECT TO CONSUMER ON OUR WEBSITE, AND IN MUSEUMS. ALL OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS WILL BE SUSTAINED INTO THE FUTURE, EXPANDING OUR REACH WELL BEYOND WHAT IT WAS PRE-PANDEMIC. BARAT FOUNDATION ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS CREATE SAFE SPACES TO ENGAGE YOUTH, ENCOURAGE CREATIVE EXPRESSION, IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, IMPROVE SELF-ESTEEM, AND PROMOTE A POSITIVE AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY LIFE-STYLE. STUDENTS DEVELOP INVALUABLE TOOLS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING INCLUDING IMAGINATION, OBSERVATION, AND CRITICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS WHILE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.MESSAGES THROUGH MURALS: THE COVID PANDEMIC SEVERELY LIMITED OUR MURAL MAKING PROGRAMS IN 2021. PAST MURALS INCLUDE THE PEACE MURAL THE LARGEST COLLABORATIVE ARTWORK IN THE HISTORY OF NEWARK; SEWING A PATH TO FREEDOM PICTURING HARRIET TUBMAN AND THE FREEDOM QUILTS WHICH LED RUNAWAY SLAVES TO FREEDOM IN THE NORTH; THE SHOPRITE MURAL FARM TO TABLE PAINTED BY SEVERAL HUNDRED CHILDREN, AND THE NJCRI PICTURING THE INCREDIBLE FOUNDER ALONG WITH DEPICTIONS OF THE CLIENTS WHO RECEIVE HELP THERE.THE CREATION NATION ART & PEACE PARADE: A CITY-WIDE CELEBRATION OF THE CREATIVE TALENTS OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEWARK, WITH HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH MARCHING THROUGH THE CITY, ACCOMPANIED BY MARCHING BANDS, FLOATS AND BANNERS. THE COVID PANDEMIC PREVENTED THE PARADE IN 2021, HOWEVER PLANS ARE TO REINSTATE THIS EXPLOSION OF CREATIVITY AND JOY IN POST PANDEMIC 2022.ADDITIONAL PAST MILESTONES INCLUDE: THE PEACE MURAL: THE LARGEST COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC ARTWORK IN THE HISTORY OF NEWARK PAINTED BY OVER 500 CHILDREN IN 14 SCHOOLS TO WELCOME THE DALAI LAMA; AN ANNUAL CREATION NATION ART & PEACE PARADE; A LARGE GROWING FAMILY OF ANIMODULE SCULPTURES NAMED "NEWARK'S OFFICIAL PEACE AMBASSADORS" BY US SENATOR CORY BOOKER. APPLAUDED BY EDUCATORS, ARTISTS, PEACE ACTIVISTS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, BARAT FOUNDATION FURNISHES A VOICE IN THE PUBLIC LANDSCAPE THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE HEALING AND PEACEMAKING POWERS OF THE ARTS. ANIMODULES AT THE NEWARK AIRPORT: AT THE INVITATION OF THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY, THE BARAT FOUNDATION PUT IN PLACE AN INSTALLATION OF STUDENT-CREATED ANIMODULE SCULPTURES AT THE ARRIVALS AREA AT TERMINAL B OF NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE EXHIBITION, ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNAGE AND TWO VIDEOS RUNNING ON A LOOP EXPLAINING THE ANIMODULE PROCESS, WAS FIRST INSTALLED IN JANUARY 2014 TO GREET DIGNITARIES VISITING NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY FOR THE SUPERBOWL. THE EXHIBITION HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE PORT AUTHORITY REQUESTED THAT SEVERAL ANIMODULES REMAIN AT THE AIRPORT INDEFINITELY, AND CONTINUE TO WELCOME OVER 500,000 VISITORS TO THE NEW JERSEY/NEW YORK REGION ANNUALLY. THE BARAT FOUNDATION ANIMODULES WERE PROCLAIMED AS "THE OFFICIAL PEACE AMBASSADORS OF NEWARK", BY THE HONORABLE CORY BOOKER, PROCLAIMING:WHEREAS THE BARAT FOUNDATION ANIMODULES, GIANT MODULAR SCULPTURES, ARE AN ORIGINAL NEWARK ART FORM FIRST CREATED IN 2008 BY THE BARAT FOUNDATION AND NEWARK SCHOOL TEACHER AND FINE ARTIST, TERRY BREWIN, WORKING WITH NEWARK YOUTH, WHEREAS ANIMODULES REPRESENT THE BARAT FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF "TRANSFORMING YOUNG LIVES THROUGH THE ARTS AND INNOVATION", WHEREAS ANIMODULES REPRESENT A POWERFUL VISION OF COMMUNITY UNITY AND PEACE,WHEREAS ANIMODULES HAVE PROUDLY LED THE CREATION NATION ART AND PEACE PARADE, SINCE 2008, THE LARGEST COLLABORATIVE ART EVENT IN THE CITY, THEREBY CREATING A NEW TRADITION OF "PUBLIC ART BY THE PUBLIC" IN NEWARK. WHEREAS OVER 70 ANIMODULES HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE BARAT FOUNDATION IN NEWARK BY ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE WORKING WITH NEW JERSEY YOUTH, FOR LOCATIONS INCLUDING TEWKSBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL, EAST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN NEWARK, WEST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL, CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, NEWARK EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, BARD COLLEGE EARLY HIGH SCHOOL, TEACHERS PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL, BRIDGES HIGH SCHOOL, BIG PICTURE SCHOOLS, BELMONT RUNYON SCHOOL, THE PARK STREET SCHOOL, THE NEWARK BOYS CHORUS SCHOOL, THE YEES CENTER, RUTGERS FUTURE SCHOLARS, NORTH 13TH STREET VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, NEWARK VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, NEWARK TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL, FAST TRACK ACADEMY, THE GREATER NEWARK CONSERVANCY, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, THE NEWARK MUSEUM, DINOSAUR BARBEQUE, AND THE NEWARK HOUSING AUTHORITY,WHEREAS THE ANIMODULES REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY AND THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF HER YOUTH IN PUBLIC EVENTS IN TIMES SQUARE NYC, CENTRAL PARK NYC, BAYONNE, JERSEY CITY AND TEWKSBURY, AT THE CREATION NATION ART AND PEACE PARADE, THE NEWARK MUSEUM, ESSEX COUNTY BLOOMFEST, HOOPFEST, THE HARLEM BOOK FAIR, THE IZOD MEADOWLANDS SPORTS ARENA, THE GOVERNOR'S ISLAND PEACE PARADE, TURTLE BACK ZOO, THE LINCOLN PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL, AND THE \NEW JERSEY GLOBAL YOGA MALA, WHEREAS THE ANIMODULES ARE SET TO BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL, MAKING HISTORY IN EDUCATIONAL REFORM AND CREATING A NEW VISION FOR PUBLIC ART,I HEREBY DO DECLARE ANIMODULES AS THE OFFICIAL PEACE AMBASSADORS OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, REPRESENTING A POWERFUL VISION OF COMMUNITY UNITY AND PEACE, IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT METROPOLIS, SIGNED BY: THE HONORABLE CORY BOOKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NJ.SIGNED, CORY BOOKER