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You
are here: ArtsPlace: It Really Works!
by Sharon Nesbitt Davis and Claire Rotolo
In 1995, The Rockford Area Arts Council created ArtsPlace, an innovative program which provides Rockford, Illinois area youth ages 14-19 with job training in the arts. Since its first summer, over 250 teen-aged artist apprentices work in teams under the guidance of professional teaching artists, selected by the Arts Council for their talent and ability to form positive working relationships with young people. The teams work in a variety of media, including functional art, watercolors, oils, printing, theater arts and dance.
The artist apprentices learn valuable skills that are applicable to future employment, such as how to get and keep a job. The weekly paycheck they earn is calculated on their attendance, punctuality, attitude, and productivity.
They learn that to be successful at their jobs they must practice good teamwork skills. They also develop other skills vital to the workplace such as problem solving, decision-making, public speaking, retail skills, perseverance, creating a resume, interviewing, and good communication. They also produce quality artwork sold at the retail ArtsPlace store and sell tickets to their performances. It's all part of the "business of art:" it's a real job!
Many of the ArtsPlace artist apprentices are from low income and /or inner city families, but the program also has teens from all over Rockford and its surrounding communities. This diversity is a key to the successful ArtsPlace experience. Kids learn to get along with - and like – kids whose backgrounds and cultures are new to them. Peer relationships as well as adult/student relationships are integral in developing learners.
ArtsPlace began as an eight-week summer program and now offers a year-round program for teens. Both the summer and year-round programs provide academic tutoring to all students. Upon entry into the program, apprentices are assessed for skills in reading, language and math. An Educational Consultant provides specific academic enhancement activities along with learning games and a focus of skill through the arts. ArtsPlace knows that these apprentices are learning over time – not only from increased exit test scores, but also seeing the maturity in life-skills. When the students seek the mentors out for additional information, you know they are on the road to learning for life.
For more information contact: Sharon Nesbitt-Davis at the Rockford Area Arts Council:
713 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61104
815-963-6765 (phone)
815-9638958 (fax)Rockford Area Arts Council www.artsforeveryone.com
©June 2004 New Horizons for Learning
http://www.newhorizons.org
info@newhorizons.orgFor permission to redistribute, please go to:
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