Art Programs For 5,000 In-Need New York Children

Another school year has come and gone, and it ended on a busy note!

Literacy Through the Arts (LTA), AFA's arts literacy program, finished its first semester at PS 163. LTA is now in three  schools: PS 15 (Lower East Side, Mahattan), Hamilton Heights Elementary (Hamilton Heights, Manhattan), PS 163 (Bronx)! LTA students summed up their semester with using Dr. Seuss books to learn about rhyme (Grade K), presenting Paper Bag Princess scenes (Grade 1), and presenting adaptations of Jack and the Beanstalk (Grade 2).

Artistic Residency Program had programs at PS 69 (Staten Island), PS 76 (Queens), PS 163 (Bronx), Weeksville Elementary (Brooklyn). Students worked on building motor skills and explored animal movements through programs such as dance. Students explored nature and the art of collage through visual arts.

Creative Works, AFA's self-expression program at New Alternatives for Children, nine children worked just over ten weeks to create an original show, Two Sides to Every Story. The presentation included a scene that shows the other side of Three Little Pigs and a dance of self-expression called That Power.

Thank you once again for your continued support of our mission. Without your help, we would not be able to reach thousands of under-served New York City children with our accessible arts programs.

It's April, halfway through the semester, and AFA is underway across the five boroughs!

Literacy Through the Arts, our year-long arts literacy program, is in PS 15 (Manhattan), Hamilton Heights Elementary (Manhattan), and this year, for the first time (thanks to support in part by New York State Council on the Arts!), PS 163 (Bronx). Students in grades K - 2 have been enjoying making a band like in the book OLIVIA MAKES A BAND, making their own books inspired by KNUFFLE BUNNY, and making campaign posters for DUCK FOR PRESIDENT.

Visual Arts residencies have wrapped up at PS 69 (Staten Island) and PS 76 (Queens), where kindergarteners got a chance to learn about Haiku Poetry and us it to inspire their their artwork.

Dance and movement-based residencies are getting started. Creative Works, which works with youth at New Alternatives for Children, will work with youth to devise and performan an original piece. At Weeksville Elementary (Brooklyn) students are participating in a Dance residency to help them prepare for the school's end-of-year dance festival.

In 2018 Arts For All turns ten! Check us out on social media and keep an eye out for how you can be a part of it, celebrating ten years of programming and ensuring many more years to come.

Thank you once again for your continued support of our mission. Without your help, we would not be able to reach thousands of under-served New York City children with our accessible arts programs.