Over 1.8 million nonprofits and charities for donors, volunteers and funders
63 Pageviews Read Stories
- EIN 13-4069251
- (646) 457-4948
- 3412 36th St Ste 2 # 100 Astoria NY 11106-1232 USA
- www.exploringthearts.org
- Add to Favorites
Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Art Museums, Arts & Culture
Mission: Founded in 1999 by legendary singer tony bennett and his wife, susan benedetto, the mission of exploring the arts (eta) is to transform the lives of young people through arts education, working collaboratively with public high schools to help them build quality, in-school arts programs and to increase out-of-school arts opportunities for their students. Eta currently serves 17 partner schools in new york city and los angeles, impacting more than 11,000 students. Eta's programs and approach address the lack of sufficient funding for the arts in public high schools and the lack of rigorous arts programs and curricula. Eta collaborates with partner school leadership to develop a 4-year plan that creates and builds high-quality, sustainable arts programming. Eta's tony bennett apprenticeship program helps young people gain access to diverse cultural institutions as an effective way to develop important professional skills and deepen their understanding of careers in the arts.
Programs: The 4-year plan: in 2016-2017 eta collaborated with the principal at each of its 20 partner schools to develop a 4-year plan for each school's arts program, which eta then helps fund with an annual grant. Each plan is unique, designed to support a principal-led vision, centered on clearly articulated goals. Eta program staff work as consultants to principals, helping them design and implement a strategic, step-by-step, sustainable plan, with built-in assessment, and a practical budget. Funds can be used to pay for the following elements in a plan: professional development and training for teachers; planning time for curriculum development; in-school artist residencies; class field trips; the purchase of arts supplies and equipment. The projected impact for this program is twofold: (a) to provide more rigorous, standards-based arts training and increased engagement with cultural institutions to traditionally under-served students who have lacked access to such opportunities; and (b) to empower public high school principals to develop and maintain quality arts programs in the face of public budget cuts and mandated curriculum and testing requirements.
eta's apprenticeship program was created to help demystify the professional world for students who aspire to work in the arts and connect them with mentors in their field of interest. While young people can often identify clear steps toward a career in law, medicine, or education, for example, they are often unsure of how to pursue a career in the arts and struggle with fear and uncertainty in the face of their dreams. The program was also designed to provide low-income students, many of whom will be the first in their families to complete high school and attend college, with an expanded network of trusted, college-educated adults. The program serves over 100 students and 60 arts organizations in nyc and la.