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PAC K-12 Outreach Program Remains Active in SCV Schools

khts_schools_chalkboardThrough a series of valuable partnerships with major arts organizations across the nation, the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program continues to provide arts-infused curriculum and unique educational opportunities for students throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

The PAC K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program uses College of the Canyons’ cultural and community resources to expose students to top-tier visual and performing arts curriculum and learning opportunities. The K-12 Arts Outreach Program has taken a collaborative approach, with PAC organizers partnering with teachers and administrators in school districts throughout the Santa Clarita Valley in order to reach as many students as possible.

“I am very excited about the growth of the PAC K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program,” said Rita Garasi, chair of the program. “The opportunity for students to work with LA Opera as well as other outstanding artists will leave a permanent impression.”

A number of arts based events and activities are currently taking place in Santa Clarita elementary schools as a result of the program. Some of these events include:

LA Opera
Students at Northlake Hills Elementary (Castaic Union School District), Fair Oaks Ranch Community School (Sulphur Springs School District) and Charles Helmers Elementary School (Saugus Union School District) recently participated in the LA Opera’s In-School Opera program.

Over the last five weeks LA Opera artists have visited the respective school sites and interacted with students through weekly workshops and rehearsals designed to teach students a variety of singing, movement and visual arts techniques associated with LA Opera’s production of the opera “The Prospector,” based on Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West.”

LA Opera’s five-week residency culminated with successful student performances of “The Prospector” held at Northlake Hills and Live Oak Elementary in November.

A final student performance of “The Prospector” will take place Tuesday, Nov. 16, at Charles Helmers Elementary School.

Spoken Word Poetry
Students at Charles Helmers Elementary School will also be participating in a four-week poetry program led by actor, teaching artist, and spoken word poet, Joe Hernandez-Kolski, host of DownBeat 720, an open-mic performance lab for high school youth sponsored by the City of Santa Monica. Hernandez-Kolski is also the recipient of an LA Area Emmy Award for “Outstanding Youth Programming.”

Hernandez-Kolski’s residency at Helmers Elementary School will culminate with a Poetry Slam Assembly featuring live performances of student works on Friday, Dec. 10.

Faustwork Mask Theatre
Internationally acclaimed Faustwork Mask Theatre brings its unique brand of performance to Rio Vista Elementary School on Wednesday, Nov. 17, for a presentation of a series of performance vignettes titled “The Mask Messenger.”

Providing new insights into the artistic, cultural, and historical aspects of the mask, the show has been performed at festivals, corporate events, universities, schools and in theaters throughout the world.

Mary Pickford Film Institute
Students at Santa Clarita and Rosedell Elementary schools are currently participating in 10 and 12 week residencies with the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education (MPI), through the Institute’s Mobile Film Classroom.

Through this program students will learn the various aspects of digital media production — writing, filming, editing etc. —while also working with their peers to develop valuable critical thinking and team-building skills.

The MPI residency will culminate in separate film festivals in which students will be able to discuss and present their film projects.

Other programs are currently in development with the Castaic Union, Sulphur Springs, Newhall and William S. Hart Union School Districts.

“We are already discussing some major plans for the fall 2011 semester,” said Adam Philipson, PAC managing director.

For more information about the PAC’s K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program or to get involved please contact Adam Philipson at (661) 362-5305.

PAC K-12 Outreach Program Remains Active in SCV Schools

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