Mission: To provide Alaska youth with the opportunity to develop personal artistic interests and skills in an intensive artistic experience through stimulating, high quality, professional instruction in visual arts, music, dance, theater, writing and Alaska Native Arts
Results: In February 2011, we were given the Sheldon Jackson Campus, a campus whose doors had been shut in 2007. This year we spent more than 15,000 volunteer hours and raised over $250,000 to begin revitalizing the 20 buildings and 20 acres. Our dream is to make a campus thriving in the arts, sciences and culture of Sitka.
Target demographics: Students, from kindergarten through 12th grade, from Alaska and throughout the country.
Direct beneficiaries per year: almost 600 students
Programs: Aase runs the only fine arts camp in alaska, the camp just completed its 40th year. It offered over 70 different multidisciplinary arts classes taught by faculty drawn from prestigious venues across the country. The 2013 camp served over 700 students in three age-divided sessions. Students came from a number of alaskan communities and around the world. In addition, aase manages and staffs the sitka performing arts center. Out- of-town artists and art educators give performances and instruction in the center and in the sitka schools.
hames recreation center is the largest of 20 buildings gifted to aase in 2011. The building allows aase to further its mission of providing arts and recreation to sitka. The facility houses the only community gymnasium in sitka along with workout and training rooms. The fee structure for the use of the facility includes both drop-in and membership rates. There are currently approximately 600 active memberships. Hames recreation center offers a number of programs which emphasis community wellness through physical activity. The center is administered by one paid position and a large number of volunteers including those serving on the administrative comittee.
congomissy
Professional with expertise in this field
09/30/2011
Rating: 4
09/30/2011
I had the privilege of teaching keyboard classes and accompanying voice and choir classes for three summers at the SFAC High School Camp. The students come eager to learn and to interact with each other and the faculty and counselors.
One of the unique aspects of the camp is the opportunity for students to not only pursue their particular interest but to experience and try other disciplines in the arts and see how those compliment and enhance the training they've already received.
The evening Art Shares programs showcase faculty and student talent both individually and in groups. This develops a camaraderie amongst the camp participants that draws them back each year to continue learning in a postive supportive atmosphere. SFAC embraces students of any skill level and seeks to build them from where they are.
The beautiful setting in Sitka just adds to the asthetic experience.
Blythe C.
Professional with expertise in this field
09/24/2011
Rating: 5
09/24/2011
I have been following Sheldon Jackson College for many years as they struggled with sustainability and finally folded. The Sitka Fine Arts Camp took a huge risk and rallied the community to not only save a historic set of buildings, but they had the vision to create an amazing asset for their community and the state. The number of volunteer hours alone that have been donated in a very small community has got to be some kind of record. This organization deserves financial support.
