Arts Horizons and Armani at PS 306X


Arts Horizons is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the newly established Armani Arts Institute as one of ten arts organizations to partner with Bronx schools and Dream Yard cultural center to create a multi-year arts program. Of the six Bronx schools participating in this collaboration, Arts Horizons will partner with PS 306 to create a literacy-based visual arts storytelling program. 

In a recent first-time visit to the Bronx, renowned Italian designer Giorgio Armani, along with Caroline Kennedy, chairperson of The Fund for Public Schools, visited Dream Yard, one of the largest non-profit Bronx arts education service providers.  As a result of his visit, the Giorgio Armani Corporation provided a funding grant to The Fund for Public Schools in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Arts and Special Projects and Dream Yard. Mr. Armani said that “this grant is an investment in the future generations of New York City”.

Part of this funding grant is being used to establish the Armani Elementary Arts Institute. This special two year program is intended to help improve, expand and/or enhance arts education in selected high-needs elementary schools in the Bronx, and to promote articulation with neighboring middle and high schools in order to ensure a more effective continuum of arts services across schools levels. The Armani Arts Institute will also contribute to helping transform participating schools and communities through the power of collaborative, project-based arts learning.

Vickie Fremont – a renowned Harlem-based visual artist and instructor at the Arts Horizons LeRoy Neiman Art Center – has been selected as the artist for the residency. Working to create puppets, masks, and collages, along with West-African drumming, first grade students at PS306 will develop stories about themselves and their communities and then about their dreams and goals. The first half of the project will culminate in students sharing their stories with their parents and peers. Parents will also have the opportunity to experience art-making first hand through a special parent/student workshop that will take place in May.

 


For more information please contact Raab Rashi, Program Manager at raab@artshorizons.org or call 201.567.1766 x119