Your performances this afternoon spoke not only to the talent nurtured in your halls, but to your heritage and your hope. The Freedom Theatre paints a great portrait upon Philadelphia's canvas. As the oldest African American Theatre in Pennsylvania, your work here awakens the senses, nourishes the soul, and reaches out in a way that not only cultivates an appreciation for the arts and education, but truly saves lives. All together, this funding will help ensure that such a shining example of professional and personal achievement in the arts continues into the 21st century and beyond. I can think of no better example of that then the symphonic harmony of Freedom Theatre's ability to unite education with art.
Art is sacrifice.
Art is self-control. Art as education is not just a perception, but stands alone as a window into the life and lives of those who perform it. For that reason, no group benefits more from your commitment to the arts, than the youth of Philadelphia. They are not just taught to dance on wood floors or perform on an illuminated stage. They are seeped in an atmosphere of life-long learning.