Artists In Schools Initiative Expands With A Grant From United Way's Youth Growth Stock Trust

The Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County (Arts Council) announces the expansion of the Artists In Schools (AIS) initiative with the assistance of a grant from the United Way of Cumberland County. The Arts Council received $10,000 through the Youth Growth Stock Trust to expand access to the AIS program for public and private schools in Cumberland County and Fort Bragg in the coming 2022-23 academic year. The funds will support AIS by subsidizing 50% to 100% of Teaching Artist fees.

“Arts Education remains vital to the development of students because it provides them with the forethought to be entrepreneurial and encourages them to see opportunities in a new way by exploring the world through creative experiences,” says Robert C. Pinson, Interim President and CEO of the Arts Council. “Following the legacy of Robert H. Short, the Youth Growth Stock Trust has established an impressive record of supporting important educational programs in Cumberland County since 1992. This grant allows the Arts Council to engage with more students through the AIS initiative than ever before.”

AIS has operated in partnership with Cumberland County Schools for over two decades. Over the last decade, AIS has benefited more than 20,000 students each year and, in total, has reached nearly a quarter million students in Cumberland County.

AIS connects schools with highly trained, professional Teaching Artists who design lessons that supplement educational goals and standards in core subject matter areas through the arts by way of artist residencies, assembly performances, online and virtual engagements, and workshops. The initiative prepares students for the challenges they face by giving them an equitable opportunity to practice creativity, problem-solve, imaginative play, think critically, and learn hands-on through interactive arts education experiences.

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Visit www.theartscouncil.com/artists-in-schools to learn more about the Artists In Schools initiative offered through the Arts Council or contact:

Sarah Busman

Arts Education Manager

910-323-1776 x.1011

SarahB@theartscouncil.com

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ABOUT THE YOUTH GROWTH STOCK TRUST

The Youth Growth Stock Trust was established in 1992 by Mr. Robert H. Short with the United Way of Cumberland County. During his life, Mr. Short was a generous philanthropist, donating millions to support educational initiatives and student scholarships.

Each year, the United Way of Cumberland County awards dozens of grants to support youth programming via income from the trust, thus creating a legacy for Mr. Short and education in the county. unitedway-cc.org/what-we-do/youth-growth-stock-trust/

ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF FAYETTEVILLE | CUMBERLAND COUNTY

The Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville, NC that supports individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development, and lifelong learning through the ARTS. As a primary steward of public and private funding for arts, cultural, and historical activities in the Cape Fear Region, all affiliated programs of the Arts Council exemplify our 5 core values: Excellence, Accountability, Transparency, Collaborations, and Innovation. theartscouncil.com

Since 1973, the Arts Council has served as a link between artists, arts and cultural organizations, and the greater community by administering programs in partnership with a variety of local agencies to help advance community and economic growth, stimulate tourism, reinforce child education through the ARTS, and enhance the cultural identity of the arts and entertainment district.

Grants, programs, and services of the Arts Council are funded in part by contributions from community partners, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. ncarts.org