Cathedral Arts Project Celebrates New Programs and Expansion
WHAT:
The Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) celebrates National Arts In Education Week 2023 by announcing new school partners and programs for the 2023-2024 school year, which includes 28 new programs and 13 new sites. In addition, the organization welcomes LaRhonda Britton as a full-time Clinical Creative Art Counselor, expanding CAP’s CAPabilities programs for students with special needs. Britton was a part-time teaching artist at CAP in the 2022-2023 school year, providing sensory arts classes to students at Oak Hill Academy, Hope Haven and Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center. As a full-time team member, she will continue her sensory art programs and provide art counseling at three new sites—Alfred I. duPont Middle School, Bridge to Success Academy High School, and GRASP Academy.
National Arts in Education Week is an annual national celebration recognizing the vital and transformative importance of the arts in education. The week-long event begins the second Sunday of September. Passed by Congress in 2010 through House Resolution 275, the week-long celebration raises awareness about this cause for elected officials and leaders in the education sector across the country and to support equitable access to the arts for all students.
CAP celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, providing access to arts education to students living in under-served communities, as well as children and youth with disabilities and those in the justice system. In addition to its afterschool programs and CAPabilities programs for students with special needs, the organization provides arts integration programs in eight Duval County schools, pairing CAP teaching artists with school instructors to co-teach subjects like dance and math or theatre and language arts during the school day.
The organization’s data shows that on average, CAP students score 7 points higher on standardized tests, achieve higher grade proficiency, perform better in science, and receive half as many behavioral violations in comparison to students not participating in CAP programs. Over a 10-year period, 97% of CAP students were promoted to the next grade level and 84% increased “grit” indicators such as class participation and task completion.
WHO:
Members of CAP’s team are available throughout the week for interview opportunities, including:
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- Dr. Lucy Chen, Vice President of Advocacy & Community Engagement
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- Melanie Hammer, Vice President of Strategy & Operations
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- LaRhonda Britton, Clinical Creative Art Counselor
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WHEN:
September 10 - September 17, 2023
Interviews can be arranged with advance confirmation.
VISUALS:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/k8z1odpnzu5liq3v9o8xt/h?rlkey=scishm81hgxvsgp6b32nby1r7&dl=0
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About the Cathedral Arts Project:
The Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) is a nationally recognized nonprofit provider of quality visual and performing arts instruction for school-aged children in Northeast Florida. CAP’s mission is to empower every child’s creative spirit, elevate arts educators in their field and advocate for access and equity in arts education. Learn more at capkids.org.