February, 15 , 2007 In this Issue:
New Urban Arts is collaborating with Youth Pride Inc. to coordinate a city-wide Youth Open Mic tomorrow night, February 16th. Poets, Performers, Writers, Musicians, Dancers, Jugglers, Singers, anyone ages 13-23 who would like to participate is invited to come to Youth Pride from 4-9pm. At 4pm, we will have writing workshops led by high school students to generate new work for those who don't come prepared with something to read at the mic. At 5pm, we will have a performance by a feature artist, Richard Edouard-Denor, New Urban Arts artist mentor, and following, the stage will be opened to youth performers. Simon Moore, director of College Visions, will dj between performances. The open mic event will be held at Youth Pride, 171 Chestnut Street. $1 at the door includes pizza and snacks! Please help us spread the word about this event. It was a huge success last year and is back again by popular demand. >>> The Citizens Bank Foundation awards New Urban Arts a $15,000 grant. The Citizens Bank Foundation announced today that it is awarding a $15,000 grant to New Urban Arts, a nationally recognized organization that provides community arts programs to Providence public high school students. "Citizens is pleased to assist New Urban Arts in their initiative to offer Providence Public school students a safe after school outlet for their artistic interests," said Jeanne Cola, Senior Vice President, Director of Community Relations. "The arts are an essential piece of a well rounded community and Citizens is pleased to be a part of this program." The grant award is critical in ensuring that Providence public high school students have access to an enriching arts education during the critical after-school hours. The grant award specifically supports the purchasing of art materials and equipment and the opportunity for students to present their new artworks through monthly exhibitions and performance events. “Citizens Bank has been an important partner in growing New Urban Arts and investing in the education of Providence youth,” says Tyler Denmead, Executive Director. “We are honored to have their continued support, first through a Champion in Action Award in 2005 and now through this grant award.” >>> New Urban Arts' enrollment grows to 148 students, an increase from 100 students the previous year New Urban Arts has seen a dramatic increase in interest and participation among our high school students sincelast year. Over 148 students are currently participating in New Urban Arts' programs, an increase from 100 the previous year. New Urban Arts has been able to support this growth through the generous and new support from several foundations and individuals. The majority of growth in our programs are new students from Central High School, the Met, Textron Chamber of Commerce Academy, and the Feinstein High School. New Urban Arts would like to thank the wonderful teachers and administrators who have been strongly advocating for our programs at their respective schools. >>>Student photographs featured at the RISD Museum showcase are now on-line. Check out these photographs by students: Amanda Abreu, Mary Adewusi, Hannah Candelaria, Rosa Cantor, Miguel Garcia, Samantha Khiev, Sosothabna Ngim, Tiffany Pires, who presented their work at the RISD Museum on January 14th. The RISD Museum's Education Department invited local, young (ages 15-24) photographers to become inspired by the photography in the exhibitions Fantastic Tales: The Photography of Nan Goldin and Urban America, 1930-1970. Working in collaboration with community-based arts organizations, AS220's Broad Street Studio, New Urban Arts, and RISD's High School Student Initiative, the Museum encouraged the artists to create new work in response to the exhibitions. The artists met with curators in the exhibitions and for a "behind-the-scenes" tour, created new work, and received feedback from RISD Graduate Students in Photography. The program culminated in a public presentation of these images on Sunday, January 14, 2007 at The RISD Museum. The event had an enthusiastic, supportive audience of over 150 people. >>> Current and former students, artist mentors, staff, and volunteers are invited to create a collaborative silksreen poster in honor of our 10th anniversary. Jean Cozzens, 2005-06 artist mentor, is leading the studio in creating a collaborative poster that commemorates New Urban Arts’ 10th anniversary and promotes the end of year celebration on May 18, 2007. (Mark Your Calendar!) To participate, send us a small square image that represents YOU – or an image that represents New Urban Arts to you. We will include the images we receive into an elaborate multi-color limited edition screen print with all the squares collaged together into a quilt-like pattern. Go to our homepage and look under "What's New" for the directions. >>> Students at New Urban Arts create annual Valentine's Day mixtape for staff, artist mentors, and students. Check out the playlist below. Song Thriller
Friends and Supporters: Stay up to date with www.RezaRitesRI.com, which promotes the voices of Rhode Island's ethnically, socially, and artistically diverse. We liked this music video by If'n Books. Subscribe to New Urban Arts' Podcast. Thank you to the RISD Balls, the RISD basketball team, for their recent donation. Thank you Sprint Systems of Photography for their donation of photochemicals. As always, the ever popular Tiny Showcase. Special thanks to White Whale Web Services, designers of www.newurbanarts.org. Also, proudly supported by: Feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends. About New Urban Arts |