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ACCESS TO THE ARTS

The Access to the Arts Initiative at THE PROGRAM is designed to introduce socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to the world of art and museums as a positive outlet to express powerful emotions and a safe and healthy resource in the community. The initiative, begun in 2000, is sustained by community collaborations with the Allentown Art Museum, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council, local charitable foundations, and independent local artists.

The projects that are a part of the Access to the Arts Initiative are all designed to use art as a creative tool to teach fundamental life skills to clients enrolled in two of the agency’s psycho-educational programs located at our Walnut Street facility – the Day Reporting Program and A.L.P.H.A.  The life skills targeted by these art projects include: verbal and visual communication, written communication, persistence, interaction and cooperation.  Moreover, participants have a safe place to learn how to deal with their emotions in a creative, productive way as they acquire the skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.  During the projects the arts are also explored

Click here to view Access to the Arts - Prior Years

Access to the Arts - 2007

  • Women's Art.  Transitions III occurred between June 5th & July 13th.  The art was unveiled at a reception on July 15th at the Allentown Art Museum with an extended six-week exhibit in the Community Gallery through August 26, 2007. Report and pictures
  • A.L.P.H.A. Art.  The Drumming Workshop happened from June 5th to July 10th. The youth presented a performance/reception on July 10th at THE PROGRAM in the A.L.P.H.A. Classroom. Report and pictures

The 2007 Women's Art Project. Transitions III: A Collection of Fiber Art and Poetry.

This summer THE PROGRAM continued its third annual project in collaboration with the Allentown Art Museum’s Inspire! Artist Residencies program to produce Transitions III: A Collection of Fiber Art and Poetry. Funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Rider Pool Foundation – which has already made a commitment for 2008! – a total of 12 women receiving services from the Day Reporting Program and the Women’s Residential Community Center had the opportunity to participate in the project.

During the six-week residencies of Florida artist Deborah Zwetsch and Allentown poet Marilyn Hazelton, the women’s efforts yielded a variety of painted banners, a collection of creative writing and poetry, hand-painted velvet scarves, bandanas, tote bags, pillows, and ID Me frames. The residencies culminated in the exhibition reception that was held in the Allentown Art Museum’s Community Gallery on Sunday, July 15th, 2007. The reception was attended by many of the artists, their families and friends, and supporters of THE PROGRAM and the arts alike. For the first time since the inception of the Access to the Arts Initiative, the project received a bona-fide exhibition in a major museum, which was on display for the community through August 26, 2007.

 

The 2007 A.L.P.H.A. Art Project.  Drumming

In collaboration with the Lehigh Valley Arts Council and local artist Moe Jerant, the youth enrolled in A.L.P.H.A. participated in a six-week drumming workshop. The goal of the drumming workshop was to integrate the arts into the academic and discipline curriculums of A.L.P.H.A. by preparing a culminating celebration at which youth perform and offer an interactive drumming experience to guests.

In her 4th residency at THE PROGRAM with at-risk youth, Moe incorporated a richness of history, culture, and vocabulary into her weekly sessions with the youth. The youth learned drumming on djembe drums, which are goblet-shaped African drums with one-piece wood bodies and goatskin heads that are tuned with ropes. Moe utilizes vocabulary words, descriptions of sounds, and hand signals or cues that youth need to participate.

Initially learning to hold the drums and play low and open tones, the youth incorporate the expectations of the workshop into their repertoire, which include: cooperation, goal-setting, respect, teamwork, leadership, and creativity. In a short time, youth are drumming “Heartbeat”, “Rumba”, and “Shiko” rhythms. Additionally, the youth are asked to create their own rhythms using the tones they learned. Other instruments like shekere and clave are also introduced during the drumming workshop.

The performance/reception held on July 10th at THE PROGRAM in the A.L.P.H.A. classroom was attended by family and friends of the youth drumming and staff of THE PROGRAM and the Lehigh Valley Arts Council. Needless to say, the youth gave a very rousing performance, inviting audience participation with other instruments, and a good time was had by all!

The Drums

 

 

This site last maintained July 15, 2008