Citi Performing Arts Center and Boston Public Schools Partner in “Target Arts Program”

Boston – Boston Public Schools (BPS) received a grant from the Target Corporation to fund an artist residency and ticket access program with Citi Performing Arts Center. The goal of the program is to improve school success, engage families and strengthen community by providing access to Boston’s rich offerings of music, dance, visual arts, theater and cultural events. The BPS Arts Department in partnership with Citi Performing Arts Center will give nearly 1,000 students in selected schools greater exposure to Boston’s theater district.

The Target Arts Program will focus on 8 of the district’s 14 “turnaround” schools – those identified last fall by BPS Superintendent Carol R. Johnson as requiring rapid, targeted interventions in order to accelerate student achievement. The program includes in-school residencies by Citi Performing Arts Center’s teaching artists, free tickets and a transportation stipend to attend one of three local theatre productions, and a “Meet the Performers” visit during which a group of local artists will perform for the entire school.  The three anchor productions are The Lion King at the Opera House, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre and City Spotlights at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre.

“Our goal in the Boston Public Schools is to offer an arts-rich experience to every child, and we continue to work with our partners to expand high quality in- and out-of-school programming to deepen and enhance the arts experience for our students,” said Dr. Johnson. “This grant from Target allows Boston Public Schools and Citi Performing Arts Center to build on an existing partnership forged during 2009’s SpectrumBoston program and to leverage the city’s considerable cultural resources to give more students access to deep, enriching arts experiences.”

“This program provides meaningful arts experiences that tie to in-school curriculum,” said Ruth Mercado-Zizzo, Director of Education at Citi Performing Arts Center.  “There is a strong desire for performing arts programs by both children and teachers in the schools and this partnership allows youth to experience art and to express themselves creatively. Because of overwhelming interest, we have already increased the number of schools we are working with and have started a waiting list.”

The grant from Target is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen families and communities throughout the country. Since opening its doors, Target has given 5 percent of its income to organizations that support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. Today that equals more than $3 million every week.

 “At Target, our local grants are making a difference in the communities we serve,” said Laysha Ward, Target’s Community Relations President. “We’re proud to partner with Boston Public Schools as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live and work.”

Program Details

The Lion King
In early March, second graders at the Maurice J. Tobin K-8 School in Mission Hill, the Blackstone Elementary School in the South End and the Curtis Guild Elementary School in East Boston will participate in five-day artist residencies with Citi Performing Arts Center teaching artists Nick Bazo and Magalie Neff.  Using folktales from Africa and/or Latin America as their guide, students will explore storytelling through puppetry and performance.  The residency culminates in a showcase put on by the students for their peers at school.  The Wayne Martin Puppets will visit each school to perform followed by an inquiry and discussion session.  Two hundred students participating in the residency as well as those from other turnaround schools will attend the Tuesday, March 16 evening performance at the Opera House.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
In mid-April, students at the Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury, the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Jamaica Plain, and the Emerson Elementary School in Roxbury will participate in five-day artist residencies with Citi Performing Arts Center teaching artists.  Content will explore the concept of “revelation” and how individuals express their ideas through movement and dance. The residency culminates in a showcase put on by the students for their peers at school.  A local dance company will visit each school to perform followed by an inquiry and discussion session.  Two hundred and fifty of the students participating in the residency as well as other turnaround schools will attend the Saturday, April 17 matinee performance at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre.  Additional details are being confirmed.

City Spotlights
In May, students at the Odyssey High School in South Boston and the Dearborn Middle School in Roxbury will participate in five-day artist residencies with Citi Performing Arts Center teaching artists.  Content will explore the ideas of identity and community through the creation of original performance pieces.  The residency culminates in a showcase put on by the students for their peers at school.  Special guest artists that will perform at City Spotlights will be visiting each school to perform followed by an inquiry and discussion session.  Five hundred of the students participating in the residency as well as other turnaround schools will attend the Saturday, May 15 evening performance at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre. Additional details are being confirmed.

ABOUT CITI PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Citi Performing Arts Center, which includes both the Wang Theatre and Shubert Theatre, is one of the nation's foremost not-for-profit performing arts institutions. As New England's largest cultural venue, it honors all aspects of the performing arts offering theatre, opera, classical and popular music, international ballet, contemporary dance, one-night engagements, and Broadway musicals. As a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization located in Boston's historical Theater District, Citi Performing Arts Center offers a diverse mix of educational workshops, lectures, and community activities through its education department; collaborates with artists and local performing arts organizations, and acts as a champion for the arts in the Greater Boston community by aggressively helping to make the arts an integral part of the community's collective, daily experience.  For further information, please go to www.citicenter.org.

ABOUT TARGET
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at more than 1,600 stores nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.