Showcase
R.I.S.E. Mural created by students at Secondary School for Law with Teaching Artist Susan Hamburger Photo: Susan Hamburger
CASA
R.I.S.E. Mural created by students at Secondary School for Law with Teaching Artist Susan Hamburger Photo: Susan Hamburger
Cultural after School Adventures (CASA), a citywide after-school arts enrichment program led by New York City Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, just completed its fifth year. CASA offers a rich variety of programming in a myriad of art forms and takes advantage of the diversity of artistic talent in New York City, while assisting schools in meeting benchmarks set by the New York City Department of Education’s Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts and adhering to guidelines set by the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts.
BAC’s participation in the CASA program has nearly tripled since the program’s inception in 2006. BAC brought the CASA program to 25 schools throughout the borough in the 2010 – 2011 school year, from Bay Ridge to Bedford Stuyvesant; Park Slope to Canarsie. Through the CASA program, BAC was able to place 80 professional teaching artists of various disciplines in 70 after-school arts workshops, over 20 assembly performing groups in nearly 60 assemblies, and invited young people and their families to 8 weekend performances at Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College (BCBC).
BAC works with each school to tailor its after-school arts programs to meet their educational goals. Led by BAC’s highly skilled teaching artists, the CASA workshops for the 2010 – 2011 school year included enrichment in a wide array of arts, including: painting, music, sculpture, puppetry, mosaics, animation, photography, graphic design, murals, ballroom dance, quilting projects, chorus, literary arts, theatre arts and broadcasting – to name a few!
Hand Puppets created by students at PS 191 with Teaching Artist Jane Catherine Shaw Photo: Jane Catherine Shaw
Assemblies are a unique complement to CASA’s art enrichment workshops. BAC offers after school assemblies that give school communities exposure to a diverse array of talented artists and art forms, from Clowning to Traditional Irish Dance, interactive Hip Hop to Flamenco Dance. As one 7 year old from Borough Park exclaimed after a Chinese Theater Works performance, "This was the best Thursday of my life!"
Special weekend outings to the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College are also made available to students and their families. These events provide even more exposure to the arts and strengthen family time together while introducing the school community to the stellar programming available at BCBC; right in their own borough.
Photo: Michael Berman
For the past four years, CASA has brought together some of Brooklyn’s greatest resources – our youth, artists, and our schools. We look forward to another year of enriching the quality of life in the diverse communities throughout the borough we love to serve.
Cultural After School Adventures (CASA) Program: A Personal Perspective
A reflection on the CASA program from our Arts in Education 2010 spring/summer Columbia University intern.
A reflection on the CASA program from our Arts in Education 2010 spring/summer Columbia University intern.
CASA was initiated by Christine C. Quinn, New York City Council Speaker, and Councilman Domenic M. Recchia Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, who have provided leadership and support since 2006. CASA is funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. BAC’s 2010-2011 CASA programs were supported by the following New York City Council members: Brad Lander, Erik Martin Dilan, Mathieu Eugene, David Greenfield, Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Sara M. Gonzalez, Darlene Mealy, Michael C. Nelson, Domenic M. Recchia, Jumaane D. Williams and Stephen Levin.
Related Categories
Multi-Discipline, Children / TeensSee Also...
