KENNEDY CENTER PUBLISHES AFTER-SCHOOL ARTS GUIDE

With the publication of The Arts Beyond the School Day: Extending the Power, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts continues its support of national efforts to improve the quality of arts education. The guide establishes elements of a quality arts-based program for schools and community organizations.

Designed for educators, after-school providers, teaching artists, arts institutions and parents, the publication offers ideas for creating quality programs and resources, including funders for such programs.

The demand for after-school programs in the arts continues to increase. In a 1997 poll by the National Opinion Research Center, parents listed the arts as second only to technology when asked what programs they wanted most for their children after regular school hours.

Recent developments include an emphasis on providing quality after-school options for families and increased interest in funding to support those programs.

For a copy of The Arts Beyond the School Day contact Katie Popoff at 614/466-2613 or email kpopoff@oac.state.oh.us.

Creative Communities will provide free arts instruction to children in public housing communities during non-school hours. The program is the first Challenge America Leadership Initiative, a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.

Grants totaling $135,000 over three years, along with technical assistance from the Guild, will be awarded to 20 community schools of the arts in different states. A match of at least 25 percent or $33,750 is required. Application deadline is December 15 for projects between April 1, 2001, and July 31, 2004.