Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts Education

Mission: Silvermine arts center provides experiences that expand the mind, nourish the soul, and connect people through the universal language of art.

Programs: The school of art - the school of art provides year-round classes to approximately 4,500 students both young and old . A distinguished faculty of approximately 90 artist/educators offer instruction in painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, digital imagery, photography, jewelry design, mixed media and creative writing. Through a series of donations and grants, we will be adding course offerings in woodworking and wood sculpture in the new bill sessions woodworking center. The board has also undertaken a strategic planning process, and we have a school task force that is now focusing on ways to increase evening and weekend attendance.

gallery and performing arts programs - the silvermine galleries present rotating art exhibits for the general public and are recognized as one of new england's most respected showcases for established and emerging artists. A complex of five galleries and a sculpture garden, the silvermine galleries boast an ambitious exhibition schedule, presenting over 20 shows each year, which are viewed by over 12,500 visitors. Silvermine has also received significant recognition, including a first-time national endowment for the arts (nea) art works grant for its performing arts programming, which unites the visual and performing arts and extends community outreach.

since 1992, the art partners outreach education program has served over 13,000 students by placing professional teaching artists in the classrooms of targeted under-resourced urban norwalk and stamford schools with minority populations as high as 78% and up to 60% reduced and free lunch populations. Our teaching artists collaborate with classroom teachers to create studio classes that incorporate curricular topics such as literacy, geography, history or science. Classes are designed to improve critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills, especially in the social/emotional arena. These are essential tools that augur student success in the 21st century.