Newtown School Receives Arts in Education Grant

The Newtown High School Unified Theater has received a grant for $38,644 to start an extracurricular theater program next spring.

Press release:

(HARTFORD, CT) —Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by State Department of Education (SDE) Commissioner Stefan Pryor and Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner Catherine Smith, today announced the awardees of a new Arts in Education grant program designed to strengthen arts instruction by facilitating partnerships between schools and artists and arts organizations. In August, Governor Malloy announced the grant program, making a total of $250,000 available with individual awards up to a maximum of $50,000.

“This program expands the way the arts and humanities are taught in schools and school districts across Connecticut by giving our students access to a learning environment outside of the traditional academic setting,” said Governor Malloy. “By focusing on all aspects of a student’s educations, we can ensure our children gain the skills and knowledge to develop into successful young men and women.”

The Arts in Education grant program is part of a multi-agency partnership between SDE, DECD’s Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA), and the Connecticut Arts Council. Of the 82 schools and school districts that applied for the grant, eight schools will receive Arts in Education grants.

“The arts are an essential component of a well-rounded education,” Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor said. “The demand for these grants was high and we were thrilled to receive so many thoughtful applications. Through partnerships with local and statewide arts organizations and institutions, schools will be able to offer stronger arts programming that will enhance our youngsters’ learning experiences.”

“The arts are an integral part of creating – and sustaining – vibrant communities,” said Commissioner of DECD Catherine Smith. “These investments will energize students and connect them to partners in the arts community in new and exciting ways.”

The names of the schools and school districts awarded a grant, grant amounts and descriptions of the awardees’ programs are as follows:

Bridgeport

Classical Studies Magnet Academy

Artistically Reaching Teachers and Students

K–8

$49,952

Description: Employ artists for residencies, performances, or workshops for all students in grades K-8, through a partnership with Arts for Learning Connecticut.

Colchester

Jack Jackter Intermediate School

Jazz and Poetry

Grades 3, 4, and 5

$20,500

Description: A residency program will integrate writing, reading, and music into the school through a partnership with the Bushnell.

Coventry

Coventry Public Schools

“Who is Coventry?”

K-12

$2,759

Description: This project will involve 30 students and families in Coventry. Through a partnership with the Wadsworth Atheneum, their stories will be depicted on ceramic tiles and go on display in a permanent art installation.

Farmington

Farmington High School

Interactive Community Map: Intersection of Fine Arts, New Media and Engineering

Grades K–4, 8, 9–12

$39,287.18

Description: Students and a local artist will create an interactive artwork that will include community-based sound recordings, 3-D printing elements, paint, plywood, electronics, sensors, and custom software developed by the artist.

Manchester

Martin Elementary School

Learning through Arts with Intention: Music, Arts and Movement.

Grades K-5

$22,740

Description: Three teaching artists-in-residency (visual arts, movement and music), with each residency culminating in a final project that will showcase student learning and be shared with parents.

Middlefield

John Lyman School

Perpetual Interactive Murals

Grades 3-4

$16,080

Description: Through a partnership with Wesleyan University, create student-painted murals that reflect the integration of the arts in the school community, focusing on curricular topics that will be decided each year.

Newtown

Newtown High School

Unified Theater at Newtown High School

Grades 9–12

$38,644

Description: Newtown High School will work with Hartford’s Unified Theater program to start an extracurricular theater program next spring. Unified Theater will host a student performance for the Newtown community and parents, as well as an assembly at the high school.

Waterbury

Waterbury Public Schools (WPS)

WPS Arts Clubs

Grades 3-7

$50,000

Description: A collaboration with the Mattatuck Museum will provide an arts integration program that will take shape as an afterschool “Art Club” for approximately 120 students, two days per week, at four Waterbury Elementary Schools: Bunker Hill, Carrington, Washington, and Wilson.

Total

$239,962.18

On Thursday, the grant awardees attended the first of at least two required professional development sessions. Awardees will be required to share their work and best practices with a statewide audience at a second event taking place at the end of the school year.

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