MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS

Educators often say that "it takes a village to raise a child." I believe it can also take a village of artists and arts organizations to raise a child. According to U.S. Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education Susan Scalfani, "The creative skills students develop through participating in the arts strengthen and enhance their preparation for living, learning, and working in a changing world." To prepare students for today's competitive workplace that highly values creativity, it is not enough to keep artistic learning confined to the time frame and resources of a standard school day: "Before and after-school, weekend and summer programs...stimulate students' artistic interests and foster their growth...cultural partners in the community--arts centers, symphonies, theaters and the like--can offer engaging venues as well as skilled instructors and mentors for students."

Our partners in the nonprofit, corporate, and academic sectors not only support specific art studio courses and integrate the arts into academic subjects. They provide field trips and visiting artists, summer and after-school programs, and exhibition and performance opportunities for selected students. They give students, early in life, the keys needed to open any career door: professional networks, specialized training, and hands-on internships. Most of all, they expose students to a world of creativity beyond school walls, and show them that success in this world is attainable. Please read about our arts programs to explore the many ways partnerships are integral to our culture. Visit our "Get Involved" page for information on how to become a UAMA partner.

We look forward to continuing to engage an entire village in our mission to prepare students to succeed as artists in the broadest sense: as creators, inventors, problem-solvers, and change-agents.

Katherine Gressel

Director of Partnerships and Development