Types of Projects

ArtsBridge has been operating since April 1996. We have sent our scholars to elementary schools, intermediate schools, high schools, special schools, and to not-for-profit youth organizations, hospitals, symphonies, and theaters.

At elementary schools, we provide

• story-writing and storytelling classes for development of vocabulary and expressive skills
• photography projects introducing pupils to pictorial composition with disposable cameras provided by us
• dance classes relating basic dance to school topics such as geography and history
• web page design
• drama residencies helping pupils create and design their own plays
• music classes helping pupils grow in choral singing and in their ability to play and identify various styles of music.

At intermediate and high schools, we conduct

• development of multimedia presentations
• drama clubs (teaching improvisation and other acting techniques)
• dance classes in various forms and styles
• we send instrumentalists to work with bands and orchestras in refining technique in various instrumental groups.

ArtsBridge projects have received the highest evaluations from teachers and pupils. Schools may request a repetition of an existing--or a new—project. ArtsBridge emphasizes flexibility. Schools may suggest projects to us, such as the writing and performance of dramatic scenes to portray heroes from American history. We have responded to a special school (with pupils with severe learning disabilities) by designing a variation of a storytelling project tailored to the potential of the students. We have sent ArtsBridge scholars to help a high school design a garden landscaping project, and pediatrics patients paint a mural in their hospital ward. Once a project is confirmed, we encourage each scholar to meet early with the supervising teacher to negotiate the particular lesson plan for the project.

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