Charlotte Group Selected for National Arts-Based Program
06/20/2006

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 20, 2006) -- Charlotte based ArtsTeach, an educational partner of the Arts & Science Council and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, has been selected for a national program that teaches preschool children through engaging and interactive drama, music and movement led by professional artists.

ArtsTeach's executive director Deborah Cooper made the announcement last month after they were selected through an extensive application process that included a formal application, site visits to and from the national office, interviews and observations. The Wolf Trap Foundation, located just outside of Washington, DC, is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 that presents and produces a full-range of performance and education programs in the greater Washington area, as well as nationally and internationally.

"North Carolina Wolf Trap will provide arts-in-education services for at-risk children from the ages of three to five year old and their teachers," Cooper said. "Partnering with this prestigious, national organization is a great opportunity for our community, which has long been a leader in early childhood education."

North Carolina Wolf Trap is a regional program of the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, which specializes in partnerships between professional performing artists and an early childhood educator to teach basic academic, literacy and life skills.

"Wolf Trap is proud to welcome ArtsTeach into our national partnership," Miriam C. Flaherty, Wolf Trap Senior Director of Education, stated. "We are convinced that ArtsTeach, with its experience with and commitment to partnering with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, teacher and artist professional development, and meaningful evaluations is exactly the right institution to establish and grow North Carolina Wolf Trap."

In these unique artist residencies, educators have the opportunity to learn performing arts techniques that can help children achieve basic academic and life skills. At the same time, artists benefit from the educator's knowledge of early childhood development. The programs encourage educators to utilize these techniques after the artist leaves the classroom, making arts an instrumental component of pre-kindergarten education through storytelling, puppetry, instrumental and vocal music, dance and movement.

ArtsTeach provides grants to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Charlotte based arts organizations for curriculum-based arts experiences and professional development workshops offered to classroom teachers, arts teachers and teaching artists. ArtsTeach is funded through the support of the Arts & Science Council, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the North Carolina Arts Council and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.