Victory? Victory!
by Jessica Mele

We are unaccustomed to victories in arts education, particularly at this time of economic uncertainty, and particularly at this time of the year. It's spring: pinkslip time for many teachers in California. Advocates in local school districts are fighting fiercely to provide all children with a high-quality education that includes the arts.

In this difficult climate, we fought to preserve federal funding for the Art in Education (AIE) program at the US Department of Education. And we won. On April 15, Congress and the president approved the FY 2011 appropriations bill which included restoration of the federal Arts In Education program – the only education program to be restored from being cut or terminated earlier in the year.

Performing Arts Workshop and 56 other grantees of this nationally competitive grant program advocated in letters, in person, and on the phone to preserve federal funding for critical research and evaluation focused on the arts in education. At our "The Light Shines On" celebration on April 5, friends and colleagues of Performing Arts Workshop sent 152 postcards in support of the AIE program to seven key legislators.

Our message was clear: The arts are a critical part of a high-quality education. All children deserve a high-quality education. The Art in Education program supports research about the powerful impact that the arts can have on student achievement. If we want to prepare students for success in work and life in the 21st century, then we need to provide them with the high-quality education that they need and deserve. The Art in Education program is a key part of this goal.

The fight isn't over yet.  Soon, both houses of congress will begin negotiating the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2012. In addition, the chairmen of the House and Senate education committees in Congress have promised action soon on the reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (also known as No Child Left Behind).

And at the same time, I can't help feeling cheerful. The recent grassroots mobilization of our field has prepared us well for the fights to come. I am so grateful to those of you became advocates for arts education in your communities. I believe that we are ready to defend each child's right to a creative education.

Learn How Your Support is Making a Difference! Read our 2010 Annual Report
by Beverly Mislang

The times have been tough, but generous people like you have stepped up to ensure young people receive the education they need and deserve. Read our 2010 annual report, Sparking Creativity and Innovation in Education, to see how your generosity made a powerful impact on the lives of over 9,000 young people. We know that change is possible, and your support is making it reality. Thank you!

The Light Shines On Celebrates the Leadership of Tom DeCaigny and Welcomes Jessica Mele as New Director
by Brian Wiedenmeier

Two hundred people gathered at Public Works in San Francisco's Mission District on the evening of April 5th to recognize Tom DeCaigny for his over eleven years of leadership at Performing Arts Workshop and to welcome Jessica Mele as his successor. Guests enjoyed live jazz music from a trio featuring former Workshop teaching artist Garth Applegate and danced to the vintage R&B and Soul records spun by the DJs from Hard French. Guests also were encouraged to make their voices heard, filling out postcards to their elected representatives in Congress, encouraging them to preserve funding for arts education at the US Department of Education.

Board President Monique Olivier welcomed guests and invited Tom to the stage to speak. Tom emphasized how grateful he was for being given the opportunity to serve, thanking supporters of the organization past and present. Jessica spoke next, focusing on the need for action to preserve vital funds for the arts in our schools and communities. She then invited Artistic Director Gary Draper and Founder and Director Emeritus Gloria Unti to come up and take a bow for their years of dedication and service to give young people the education they need and deserve. A big "thank you" to all of those in attendance, and a special note of gratitude to our event sponsors Cooper White & Cooper, Duckworth Peters Lebowitz Olivier LLP, Linda Belden Handmade Rugs, Olive Grove Consulting, and PodOmatic.

Please visit our Flickr page to view photos from the evening taken by photographer Teresa Kennett.

To read Tom DeCaigny's reflections on his years with the Workshop, click here.

The Workshop is Recruiting New Board Members
by Linda Belden, Board Liaison

Performing Arts Workshop is looking for a few talented and conscientious volunteer board members who share our belief that the arts can be a powerful vehicle for education reform. Since its founding, Performing Arts Workshop has been dedicated to helping young people develop critical thinking, creative expression, and basic learning skills through the arts. The Workshop's Board of Directors is the custodian of this extraordinary institution and has the ultimate responsibility for its well being and effectiveness. The duties and responsibilities of board members include policy administration, public and community relations, finance, fundraising, and board development.

We are currently looking for members to help with our advocacy programs; business leaders to advise on finance, HR, marketing, and other business practices; and community leaders in the neighborhoods we serve.

Our recruitment process involves a number of steps, including an interview with the Board Governance Committee and Executive Director, and a site visit to one of our classes. To find out more about whether this volunteer opportunity is right for you, please contact Linda Belden, lbelden@earthlink.net, or 415-674-9931.

Artist Spotlight: Sonia Reiter
by Anne Trickey

The Artist Spotlight gives the Workshop a chance to showcase artists currently igniting young minds in schools and communities. This month we are featuring Sonia Reiter.

What brings you to Performing Arts Workshop?

I first heard about Performing Arts Workshop though my friend Sara Pfeifle who taught with the Workshop for a number of years.  We worked together at another arts teaching organization and she was so enthusiastic about the culture and atmosphere at the Workshop that I felt like I had to find to out more.  I joined Performing Arts Workshop in fall of 2007 and began teaching creative movement to pre-k through elementary aged students (I have since added theater arts).  From my first cohort meeting I was totally smitten with the Workshop.  It was so amazing to have a chance once a month to come together with other teaching artists and talk about our experiences in the classroom, both the challenging and exhilarating.  The cohort groups have continued to be one of my favorite aspects of working with Performing Arts Workshop.  I honestly believe that public education reform should start with giving teachers the chance to connect with other teachers in the way we get to at the Workshop. 

As a dancer I am always looking for authenticity in my movement and performance.  Often children can move and perform authentically without any of the effort.  They don't have to try to rid themselves of their inhibitions, patterns and habits.  Their stage presence and movements have a level of truthfulness that blows me away. At this point I actually believe that I would rather watch a roomful of children dancing than a company of highly trained dancers.  This year I had the chance to choreograph a music video for the band tUnE-yArDs and for the first section of the video we needed to work with a classroom full of children.  I was able to select some of my students from a creative movement residency at Miraloma Elementary.  On the day of the shoot the crew was totally blown away by the relationship between me and the kids.  I guess working with child talent isn't usually so entertaining and fun.  Ten weeks of dancing together had let us build a world with it's own logic and language and the resulting performance by the kids was pretty spectacular.  You can check out the video here.  Keep watching past the kids to get to the adult dancers section as it features Performing Arts Workshop artist Liz Tenuto and myself as well as many other talented Bay Area dancers.

Where can we see you in action?

Check out the truly awesome tUnE-yArDs music video!

http://youtu.be/YQ1LI-NTa2s

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