November 24, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Krista Terrell, communications director
704-335-3035
krista.terrell@artsandscience.org

(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) – The Arts & Science Council (ASC) and ArtsTeach announced today a plan to merge ArtsTeach into ASC. The merger will accelerate the ability of the organizations to fulfill their collective vision for cultural education and make expanded cultural education opportunities available to more children in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

ArtsTeach provides programs and grants to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), teaching artists and arts organizations to provide curriculum-based arts experiences and professional training for classroom teachers and artists in providing educational arts experiences. Primarily funded by ASC, ArtsTeach and ASC share a goal to maximize learning for school children.

“Bringing ArtsTeach into ASC will enable our organization to provide more funding for cultural education and greater school-based decision-making over how cultural education grants are utilized,” said ASC President and CEO Lee Keesler, who also serves on the ArtsTeach board. “These programs provide educational opportunities that are intrinsic to a young person’s development, and together we can reach mo>

November 24, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Krista Terrell, communications director
704-335-3035
krista.terrell@artsandscience.org

An Education Investment Task Force, formed earlier this year by ASC’s board to review the organization’s cultural education initiatives, recommended a unified approach to cultural education, which was supported by both ArtsTeach and ASC.  The Task Force, comprised of cultural organization leaders, educators, and business representatives, reviewed cultural education research, other arts and cultural education programs in the U.S. and heard presentations from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, ArtsTeach and local cultural education providers.

“By combining our organizations we believe we will be able to build an even stronger relationship with  schools and educators which will enhance our programs and services for the benefit of students throughout Charlotte-Mecklenburg,” said Steve Newmark, board chair of ArtsTeach.

“The combined synergies of our organizations will enable us to better leverage community investments for cultural education,” Newmark added.

In addition to providing grants for arts education, ArtsTeach manages North Carolina Wolf Trap, a regional program of the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, which teaches at-risk pre-school children basic academic and life skills through active participation in music, dance, drama and storytelling. The program also provides professional development for teachers and teaching artists. ArtsTeach also operates the ArtStart program that supports teachers and teaching artists in improving student academic achievement by using the arts to develop literacy skills in targeted grade levels.

Newmark said he expects Wolf Trap and ArtStart, both of which have funding sources independent of ASC funding, to grow stronger as the merged organization evolves.

The Task Force found that most arts councils include an education arm inside their organization rather than partnering with an independent cultural education entity. Pending due diligence and final approval by boards of both organizations, the merger will become effective on July 1, 2009.

The merger will also:

• Create cost efficiencies by reducing overhead and making more dollars available for cultural education initiatives.

• Facilitate cultural education opportunities for more children by allowing home schools and independent schools to apply for cultural education grants.

• Expand cultural education funding beyond arts education to include science and history.

The merged organization will be designed to better meet the needs of school children by providing expanded opportunities for curriculum-based cultural education programs that reinforce lessons taught in the traditional classroom format.

“CMS looks forward to a continued partnership with the Arts & Science Council to provide valuable programming to our students,” said Ann Clark, CMS associate superintendent of PreK-12 instruction and curriculum. “CMS has a long history of partnering with the arts and science organizations in the region to provide high quality professional development for our teachers and engaging programming for our students in the form of field trips, resident artists and school-based programs.”

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ASC
ASC is a non-profit organization that serves and supports Charlotte-Mecklenburg's cultural community through grant-making, planning, fundraising, programs and services to creative individuals, neighborhood cultural projects, cultural education and institutions reflective of our diverse population to ensure a vibrant community enriched with arts, science, history and heritage.

ArtsTeach
ArtsTeach, located at Spirit Square in Charlotte, is an educational partner to ASC. ArtsTeach seeks to maximize academic learning for students by exposure to, practice in and infusion of the arts. Our programs and ng. The program also provides professional development for teachers and teaching artists. ArtsTeach also operates the ArtStart program that supports teachers and teaching artists in improving student academic achievement by using the arts to develop literacy skills in targeted grade levels.

Newmark said he expects Wolf Trap and ArtStart, both of which have funding sources independent of ASC funding, to grow stronger as the merged organization evolves.

The Task Force found that most arts councils include an education arm inside their organization rather than partnering with an independent cultural education entity. Pending due diligence and final approval by boards of both organizations, the merger will become effective on July 1, 2009.

The merger will also:

• Create cost efficiencies by reducing overhead and making more dollars available for cultural education initiatives.

• Facilitate cultural education opportunities for more children by allowing home schools and independent schools to apply for cultural education grants.

• Expand cultural education funding beyond arts education to include science and history.