The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is launching a new Arts & Ideas Fellowship Program this fall, which is designed to give high school students unparalleled exposure to a global variety of creative careers as they prepare to pursue college and/or enter the workforce. The Arts & Ideas Fellowship Program will consist of three to four sessions per month, focused on deepening students’ understanding of the disciplines represented at the Festival, honing their skills in writing and self-expression, and involving them in hands-on experiences that develop leadership skills. Sessions will be taught by Festival staff and guest teachers working in the field. In addition, students will meet with a critical writing teacher once a month who will focus on helping students understand context, think critically, and form opinions that can be expressed in high quality writing.
The Arts & Ideas Fellowship Program will culminate in an intensive two-week immersion experience at the 15th annual International Festival of Arts & Ideas in June 2010. During that time students will attend open rehearsals, performances and panels/symposia, meet-and-greet with artists and speakers, attend master classes and support Festival staff in their chosen area of interest. Students will also complete writing assignments based on their experiences that will be published on the Festival’s blog at www.artidea.org as well as in other arts publications, and can be used in college applications.
“The Festival believes that arts and culture contribute to the overall vitality and connectedness of our community. Access to the arts by young people broadens perspectives, reinforces critical thinking and can be crucial to future success” said Andria Matthews, Manager of Community Programs for the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and Fellowship Program Director. “Inner-city students deserve every opportunity to develop their talents by better understanding the world around them. This Fellowship Program combines instruction in critical observation and writing with exposure and hands on experience in various arts disciplines. It is designed to strengthen basic communication skills while opening up access to an international community of arts, thought and creativity.”
The Festival is now recruiting economically disadvantaged students from high schools in the Greater New Haven area who meet the eligibility criteria to participate in the Arts & Ideas Fellowship Program. Please contact Andria Matthews at amatthews@artidea.org or (203) 498-3723 for more information and an application form. Applications are due to the Festival on Monday November 16.
The Arts & Ideas Fellowship program is underwritten in part by a grant from The Workforce Alliance of $53,333 which supports 100% of the incremental costs directly related to the participation of eight students who meet the Workforce Investment Act eligibility requirements.
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas
The 15th annual International Festival of Arts & Ideas will be held June 12-26, 2010. Since its founding in 1996, the Festival has presented more than 15,000 artists and thinkers in over 5,000 events, celebrations, explorations, forums, exhibitions, debates, presentations and more. The Festival plays host to over 100,000 people each year, and takes place in more than two dozen venues in and around New Haven, Connecticut, including theaters, concert halls, courtyards and the streets. More than 75 countries have been represented in the Festival since its inception.
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