Chandler Cultural Foundation Ak-Chin Grant Application
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Ak-Chin Indian Community Grant Application Purpose of Grant Program Description The Chandler Cultural Foundation (501c3) is requesting funding for the Connecting Kids education and engagement program. The program serves students ages 6 to 17 using hands-on performance and visual arts opportunities. Youth programs served more than 6,000 students annually with low- or no- cost arts experiences. Youth programs include Theatre Kids, which provides students with free school day field trips to attend performances by touring artists. Vision Kids, which partners young people with professional visual artists, providing supplies free of charge to create an original piece of art. Camp Kids, which are fee, based performing arts camps in musical theatre. Finally, the Youth Advisory Council, which is a free teen leadership program that focuses on arts administration, appreciation, and advocacy. Target Population. Theatre Kids is designed for students from Pre-K to 12th grade. The program serves approximately 3,000 students each, 72% of whom are from Title 1 schools. Performances attract students from district schools, charter schools and homeschools located throughout the greater Phoenix metro area. Act One is a partner for this program; they facilitate bussing assistance to Title 1 students wishing to attend performances. Vision Kids classes are designed to be accessible to individual students ages 6-16 of varying skill levels. The workshops are conducted on Saturdays and provide an out of school arts experience with a teaching visual artist. In a survey conducted in FY21, 46% of participants indicated that they lived in Chandler and 32% indicated they lived elsewhere in the East Valley. 30% of students were new to the program in FY21. Camp Kids is a school-break program available to students ages 7-14. Between 75% and 85% enrolled are from Chandler households. Up to four scholarships are offered for each session. Youth Arts Council is eligible for teens 13-17 years of age who attend a public, private, parochial, charter, or home school. Fifteen students are selected from a pool of approximately forty applicants. The program attracts college-focused students from diverse cultural backgrounds who are interested in youth leadership opportunities and arts advocacy. Many applicants already have a close connection to the arts as dancers, singers, musicians, or visual artists. Project Goals and Objectives. The Connecting Kids program exists to develop young people's imagination, confidence and cognitive and problem-solving skills while developing the artists, leaders, and arts patrons of tomorrow. Arizona has clearly defined expectations for the Arts in state policy and developed clear standards for what every child should know and be able to do. The policies combine to create the educational vision and expectations for Arts Education in public schools across the state. The Arts Education Data Project, a partnership between the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education and Quadrant Research. Chandler Cultural Foundation – East Valley Page 2 Connecting Kids Youth Edcucation and Engagement Program The Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) provided the data for the 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020- 21 Arizona Arts Education Data Project. Other partners include the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona Citizens for the Arts. Findings from this report show that most students (89%) had access to at least one arts discipline; 66% had access to the state-required two disciplines. 10.5% of students did not have access to any arts instruction. Schools where a low proportion of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (FRL) were more likely to lack arts education (37%) than schools with a higher proportion of FRL-eligible students. Among students without access to the arts, more than twice as many attended a charter school (20.1%) vs. a traditional school (7.9%). The Chandler Cultural Foundation helps fill the youth arts education gap in multiple ways. Improving arts access to Title 1 schools is accomplished by waiving registration fees for school trip theater performances. Working with partner organizations to facilitate transportation for Title 1 students for field trips and transportation for after school programs. When possible, bringing arts opportunities directly into schools through workshops, digital field trips, and study guides. Offering free out-of-school arts opportunities to youth through Vision Kids and Youth Arts Council. Providing scholarships to Camp Kids fee-based programs for youth interested in theater, dancing, and singing. Continuous improvement of the program is obtained by soliciting feedback for all programs through online surveys sent to parents, teachers, and participants. Theatre Kids is curated by staff; programs align with Arizona's academic standards in the arts and social/emotional learning competencies. Vision arts staff conducts a call to teaching artists each semester. Vision Kids students come from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, so it is important that the roster of teaching artists is just as diverse. Individuals across the spectrum of race, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply. Proposals for classes that relate to themes within upcoming exhibitions (such as jazz, Latinx heritage, Black history) are encouraged. Chandler Center for the Arts staff develops Youth Arts Council curriculum and sources guest speakers. Participants interact with advocacy leaders, board members, working artists, and arts administrators from a range of cultural and professional backgrounds. In 2019, CCA completed a comprehensive assessment of our engagement programs with an outside consultant. The purpose of the assessment was threefold: determine the impact of our existing programs within the community, analyze efficiencies that could be implemented, and assess future expansion opportunities. The findings showed that our programs were well received and valued by the community. We continue implement a number of the short-term recommendations throughout our programs to improve efficiency and impact, such as piloting Spanish-language visual arts workshops and digital theatre performances for schools. Goals for this grant cycle are to provide 6,000 youth with an arts experience. 10% of the youth served would be new to the programs. A retention rate of 25% would be met for youth participating in the following year’s programs. All Connecting Kids Youth arts programs are documented through a registration process and evaluations are completed following each program. Chandler Cultural Foundation – East Valley Page 3 Connecting Kids Youth Edcucation and Engagement Program Project Timetable. The Connecting Kids program serves youth throughout the fiscal year which starts on July 1st and ends on June 30th. Resources Current Funding Sources. The Chandler Cultural Foundation seeks private, government, foundation, and corporate funding from the community. Current funders include Cox Charities, Salt River Project, The Ruth McCormick Tankersley Trust, and the City of Chandler. Project Partners. Act One, 501c3 that provides meaningful arts experiences that enhance the academic and creative potential of children and families in Arizona. The Chandler Cultural Foundation partners with Act One to identify attendees and provide no cost busing for field trips. ICAN (Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods) who’s mission is to provide free, comprehensive programs that empower youth to be productive, self-confident, and responsible members of the community. The Chandler Cultural Foundation partners with ICAN to create a series of Visions Kids classes during the summer months for ICAN’s students. Sustainability. Since 1996 The Chandler Cultural Foundation has been providing youth education and engagement programs for the community. Funding for programs comes through a variety of resources, such as grants, individual and business sponsorship, investment of revenue surpluses. Indian Tribe Requests. The Chandler Cultural Foundation received $10,000 in in November of 2019 from the Gila River Indian Community to support the Connecting Kids program. Reports Funding Management. The Chandler Cultural Foundation has clearly defined roles for grant management within the organization. Once a need is identified, budgets are developed based on program projected costs. Year- round identification of funding resources are tracked and reviewed monthly. When grants are received, mid term and closing grant reports are scheduled and any necessary program tracking and documentation specific to the grant are incorporated into annual planning. Financial activities are reviewed and reported to the board of directors monthly and independently audited annually. Budget Budget and Budget Justification. Please see attached budget. Proposed Budget Expense Professional Fees: Artist, Instructors, Facilitators $125,000 Art Supplies $4,000 Graphic Design and Printing $2,500 Marketing and Advertising $2,500 Artist/Participant Food $2,500 Other Expenses $1,500 Total Budget $138,000 Proposed Contributed Revenue Corporations $5,000 $0 $10,000 Foundations $50,000 $0 $50,000 Government/Tribal $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 Individuals $12,500 $0 $0 Total Budget $97,500 $20,000 $70,000 Request of Ak-Chin Amount requested or secured from