May 4 2016, Miami, FL – Arts for Learning (A4L) is proud to announce a partnership with Tarell Alvin McCraney, the University of Miami (UM), Voices United, African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC) and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs (DoCA) to present the Youth Artist Leadership Summer (YALS) Program. The free, ten-week summer program will provide intensive training and mentorship in performing arts and arts leadership to 8th– 12th grade female students of color for three consecutive summer terms. The first iteration of the program will take place from June 13 – August 19, 2016 at the AHCAC in Liberty City.
Nationally acclaimed playwright and Miami native Tarell Alvin McCraney partners with A4L and other arts organizations to bring the Youth Artist Leadership Program to Liberty City. Photo courtesy of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The YALS Program aims to address the widespread under-representation of young women of color in leadership positions in the arts while expanding arts learning, training, and access for underserved youth in Miami, specifically Liberty City. Throughout the ten-week course, participants will work closely with professional teaching artists to study elements of playwriting, dance, chorus, and visual arts, while participating in leadership enrichment training. The program will focus on the performance of a Greek tragedy; writing an original script; and writing and performing an original production, respectively over the program’s three-year span.
Miami native, acclaimed playwright and 2013 MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, McCraney collaborated with A4L on the design of the program, based on a model used by local youth development organization Voices United. The vision for the program stems from McCraney’s desire to create the environment, circumstances and opportunities for young women of color from the community in which he grew up to participate in meaningful ways in theatre that is ultimately for, by and about them.
“In order to add the often missed voices of young women, particularly of color, to the growing landscape of artistic leadership, we’ve joined forces with one of the oldest and well-respected summer conservatory programs at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center; a pioneer in arts learning and leadership with Arts for Learning; and Voices United to create an intensive, cost free, summer program that seeks to launch the early leaders in our art form forward,” McCraney said.
This program is made possible in part by the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards program.
Auditions for the YALS program will take place on Saturday, May 7th from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the AHCAC (6161 NW 22nd Ave, Miami, FL 33142). For more information, and to audition for the program, please contact Lily Ho, Administrative Assistant, UM Department of Theatre Arts at [email protected], or 786-955-7678.
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About Arts for Learning/Miami
Arts for Learning (A4L) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing teaching and learning through the arts and community cultural resources. As a leading source of arts programs in Miami, A4L provides traditional and arts-integrated instruction, student studio programs, afterschool and summer programs, high school internships, and teacher and artist professional development. A4L’s programs augment cognitive, social, and emotional development in children and youth. The programs also develop creativity, critical thinking, communication, problem solving skills as well as promote positive peer relations and cultivate self-efficacy. A4L partners with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and Young Audiences – A4L’s national affiliate. A4L also serves as the South Florida Wolf Trap, a regional program of Wolf Trap Institute for Early LearningTM. A4L’s services are delivered to more than 5,000 children and youth in approximately 50 schools, preschools, after-school programs, and summer camps throughout Miami-Dade and Broward.
Art for Learning’s programming is made possible by individuals like you and by support from City of Miami Beach Cultural Affairs Program, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Jonathan D. Lewis Foundation, Joseph H. and Florence A. Roblee Foundation, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, and the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, The Miami Foundation, The Children’s Trust, and UBS.
A4L Media Contact: Carolina Candelaria, External Relations Assistant, [email protected], 305.576.1212 *32
A4L Organization Contact: Sheila Womble, Executive Director, [email protected], 305.576.1212 *23
UM Department of Theatre Arts Contact: Lily Ho, Administrative Assistant, [email protected], 786-955-7678
Arts for Learning Miami (A4L)
The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse
404 NW 26th Street, Miami, FL, 33127
305.576.1212, www.a4lmiami.org
