Organization: YOUNG AUDIENCES OF MARYLAND INC
Mission: TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES AND EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH THROUGH THE ARTS BY CONNECTING EDUCATORS, PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES.
Activities: THE SUMMER ARTS & LEARNING ACADEMY (SALA) IS OUR SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM THAT WE OPERATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLS. THIS FIVE WEEK, FULL DAY SUMMER PROGRAM CURBS SUMMER LEARNING LOSS IN LITERACY AND MATH BY PROVIDING ARTS INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION. THE POWER OF SALA LIES IN THE COLLABORATION THAT OCCURS BETWEEN TEACHING ARTISTS AND TEACHERS WHO CO-TEACH CHILDREN, PREK-5TH GRADE, IN THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, KIDS HAVE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS, ATHLETICS, ROBOTICS AND FIELD TRIPS. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES OVER 2,000 KIDS THROUGH SALA.
OTHER OUT OF SCHOOL TIME: THROUGH THE BLOOMBERG ARTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, STUDENTS GAIN FAMILIARITY AND COMFORT WITH WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE, IMPROVE VERBAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS, EXPLORE CULTURAL ASSETS IN OUR CITY, DEVELOP CRITICAL LIFE AND WORK SKILLS, AND PREPARE TO APPLY AND TRANSITION INTO COLLEGE. THIS IS A RIGOROUS PROGRAM WITH THREE MAJOR ELEMENTS: A SIX-WEEK PAID PLACEMENT AND PROJECT WORKING DAY-TO-DAY IN AN ARTS ORGANIZATION; VISITS TO ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS; AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS PROGRAM STARTED IN NYC AND LATER EXPANDED TO PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO ENCOURAGE A MORE EQUITABLE AND DIVERSE RANGE OF STAFF AND AUDIENCES AMONG CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, WHILE INSTILLING IN THE STUDENTS AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE IMPORTANT CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF ARTS AND CULTURE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS A RANGE OF AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING IN AND BEYOND BALTIMORE.
RESIDENCIES AND EARLY LEARNING: IN A RESIDENCY PROGRAM, A PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTIST COLLABORATES WITH TEACHERS TO CO-PLAN AND CO-TEACH A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS IN THE CLASSROOM. IN FINE ARTS RESIDENCIES, THE LESSONS FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCING THE ART FORM. IN ARTS INTEGRATED RESIDENCIES, THE LESSONS INCORPORATE BOTH LEARNING ABOUT THE ART FORM AND USING THE ART FORM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHER CURRICULUM TOPICS. EACH TEACHING ARTIST COMPLETES INTENSIVE TRAINING TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THE FINE ARTS STANDARDS AND BREAK DOWN THEIR ART FORM FOR STUDENTS. STUDENTS BENEFIT BY HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE DEEPLY INTO THE ART FORM AND FIND THEIR OWN CREATIVE PROCESSES, AND TEACHERS BENEFIT BY LEARNING NEW STRATEGIES TO USE THE ARTS IN THEIR TEACHING. RESIDENCIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, FROM BIRTH THROUGH GRADE 12.AS THE MARYLAND AFFILIATE OF WOLF TRAP INSTITUTE FOR EARLY LEARNING, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS (FROM BIRTH THROUGH KINDERGARTEN). ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS OTHER TYPES OF EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMMING INCLUDING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOPS, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ASSEMBLIES.
NTEE category: Arts, Culture & Humanities
Secondary category: Education