Arts in Action V A P

Arts in Action Visual Art Program, Inc. is an organization that educates its students and volunteers about art, the therapeutic value of art and the processes of creating art, and promotes growth of art appreciation in schools and throughout the community as a means of communication. This visual art curriculum develops skills in critical thinking, sequencing, fine motor coordination, and analytical reasoning. These skills enhance learning in other subject areas such as reading, writing and mathematics. Additionally, the curriculum fosters selfexpression, self-esteem, and a sense of empowerment. AIAVAP is based on a program that Angela Tripi-Weiss created twenty-four years ago. Ms Tripi-Weiss refined it during her 18-year tenure as director of the visual arts programming at Public School 87 in Manhattan, and for the last 12 years has been the curriculum developer for Arts In Action VAP Inc as an independent entity. She continues to offer tutorials in portfolio development for student entry into specialized high schools, such as LaGuardia High School, and she has developed educational curricula, workshops for special exhibits and new galleries for The Museum of Natural History in New York City. AIAVAP has just concluded its 12th year as an independent nonprofit organization and has been operating an afterschool program as the first of several programs to be established and set into operation. AIAVAP was selected for seven years for a grant from City Councilwoman, Honorable Gale Brewer, and Department of Youth and Community Development ( DYCD). AIAVAP enjoys the support of a dedicated and diverse board of directors, who give time in their specific area of expertise. Thanks to Corcoran Cares support, AIAVAP was able to continue subsidizing all initial scholarship students as well as to award new ones during the last school year. These two grants, coupled with the tuitions acquired through the fee-based student body, have enabled AIAVAP to move closer to meeting its financial goals. Charitable funding allows AIAVAP to dedicate resources and energy to finding and fulfilling the art educational needs of children from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The roster of students has doubled in this past year, attracting students from seven public, private and parochial, schools. Applicants accepted for scholarship were 70% male and 30% female ranging in age from 5 through 16. The children came from a diverse community of Latin-American, Asian, African-American and White families. This community is predominantly based on the Upper West Side although the program's reputation is beginning to draw interest from other areas of New York City. No prior art experience is necessary. Each class is grouped with students from two to three grade levels as well as being ethnically and socio-economically diverse. Class size is kept to twelve children. The organization has continued to reach out to many communities through advertising strategies that included local news publications, web sites, and a flyer handout campaign. AIAVAP continues to contact community organizations, schools and churches to reach families who are financially challenged but whose children could benefit from exposure to art expression. This year, the AIAVAP Afterschool program was able to acquire two assistants to help in most of the classes. The quality of learning improves markedly when the art instructor has assistance. AIAVAP established significant relationships with school counselors from several area high schools, notably LaGuardia, Beacon, and Bard. Through such contacts AIAVAP offered an opportunity for teens attending artbased high schools to fulfill their community service requirements in a creative venue and to encourage those high school students who may want to study teaching art as a college major. (80 students)