CSArts-SGV Receives $25,000 Grant To Provide Free Arts Programming To San Gabriel Valley

San Gabriel Valley's (CSArts-SGV) enthusiastic and talented young artists will spread the joy of the arts to underserved communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley through a new Gluck Community Service Arts Fellowship Program, launching in January 2019. The Max H. Gluck Foundation has awarded the school $25,000 for the inaugural year, which will provide the means to present free performances and educational activities to those in need or with little access to the arts. The program was originally designed by founding school Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) in 2001, and has served more than 500,000 underserved community members in the past 17 years.

"We are very grateful to the Max H. Gluck Foundation for enabling us to bring our community service program to the San Gabriel Valley. We have seen firsthand the way the arts can positively affect both our students and those in the audience since we began the program at Orange County School of the Arts," said Ralph S. Opacic, Ed.D., founder and executive director for OCSA and chief executive officer for CSArts-SGV. "Our partnership with the Gluck Foundation exemplifies our commitment to community service, and the new grant for CSArts-SGV is expected to make a similar impact in the coming years."

Led by Dean of Arts Abbe Levine and Associate Dean of Arts Stephen Cook, D.M.A., the CSArts-SGV program aims to present 75 performances in the first year, reaching an estimated 5,000 people. Partner organizations will include community centers, cultural festivals, churches, hospitals, retirement homes and other civic agencies that welcome and service a broad and diverse audience. Students from all 10 conservatories will be involved in presenting a variety of arts programs in the areas of commercial dance, commercial music, instrumental music, musical theater, poetry, visual arts, vocal arts and more.

The Gluck Foundation's mission is to support programs that address the educational, health, cultural and creative needs of the underserved. Gluck Board President and CEO Jon Kaswick, M.D. commented on why CSArts-SGV was chosen as a grant recipient.

"Science develops technologies that facilitate our lives, treat our maladies and augment our longevity. Art enhances our lives and makes longevity pleasurable and worthwhile. CSArts-SGV nurtures interest in art in talented students with a proclivity for creativity. The Gluck Foundation embraces institutions such as CSArts-SGV that promote artistic endeavors in venues that reach out to local communities," said Kaswick.

Many respected studies have shown that the arts benefit young people by enhancing intellectual development, stimulating creativity, building self-esteem and helping them to develop essential skills that prepare them for success in work or life. For children who face barriers to engaging in school, the arts can help to unlock their potential and motivate learning. The arts also have the power to heal. Major health care institutions recognize the therapeutic effects of the arts ranging from lowering stress levels, to faster recovery times, to increased social interactions.

The educational outcomes of the program for CSArts-SGV students include increased leadership and critical thinking skills, ability to express ideas through live performance, creation of social bonds, and compassion and understanding for diverse populations. The Gluck Community Service Arts Fellowship Program will help students realize the importance of community service, thus fostering a generation of artists who view volunteerism as an essential part of their career.

The Gluck program is designed to offer these benefits to students and the community, removing boundaries and broadening horizons, as well as uniting many audience members through the power of art. Organizations interested in partnering with CSArts-SGV may contact Dean of Arts Abbe Levine at abbe.levine@sgv.csarts.net for more information.

About California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) provides a creative, challenging and nurturing environment that offers bright and talented students unparalleled preparation for higher education and a profession in the arts. CSArts-SGV is the first satellite school to open in a network of public charter schools being established by the California School of the Arts Foundation, an organization created to replicate the award-winning, 30-year model established by Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA).

CSArts-SGV opened on Aug. 14, 2017 in a unique public-private partnership with the Duarte Unified School District, and is a tuition-free, donation-dependent program for seventh through 12th grade students. CSArts-SGV students study in one of the 10 arts conservatories offered including acting, classical & contemporary dance, commercial dance, creative writing, instrumental music, integrated arts, musical theatre, production & design, visual arts and vocal arts. Students receive opportunities to participate in master classes, guest artist presentations, field trips and performances, as well as a variety of campus clubs and activities. Small student/teacher ratios in academic and arts classes allow for personalized attention to students.

CSArts-SGV is located at 1401 Highland Avenue, Duarte, CA. For more information, visit sgv.csarts.ne

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