ALEXANDRIA, VA. (December 21, 2011) – Today, National PTA® announced the recipients of the 2011-2012 Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grants—a matching grant program for student-centered arts education programs.

“National PTA is proud to support PTAs that are making an effort to keep kids active in the arts. Through these grants, children will be able to continue to express themselves artistically, which research shows will help them perform better academically,” said Betsy Landers, National PTA President.

The Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant is a matching grant provided by National PTA to local PTAs. The objective is to provide arts education learning opportunities representative of best practices, especially those of a sustained nature and serving large numbers of at-risk students. This year’s winners are:

• Katharine Lee Bates Elementary PTA in Colorado Springs, CO, will launch the Bates After-School Arts Program for students in grades K-5.  The school will work with volunteer parents and contracted guest artists who will engage two groups of students (Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5) in arts disciplines including dance, drama, music, and visual arts. Throughout a five week block, groups will rotate, and each group will work with a professional artist, dancer, musician or actor. Students will produce a series of art works or mini performances; experience formal and informal performance; and learn how to experience and appreciate both the arts and the art of performance.

• Vista Academy PTA in Vista, CA, will implement a Ceramic Sculptural Totems project. The five-week project will involve all children enrolled at the academy and will take place during regular school hours. Students will be assigned to projects by age. Each grade will create a clay pillar, or totem, approximately five to eight feet tall, to be permanently installed on campus. Students will learn ceramic skills, including impressions, scraffito, texturizing, incising, scoring and slipping, and glazing. Arts staff will incorporate both art standards and core subject standards into hands-on lessons that will be age appropriate by grade.

• Emma G. Whiteknact PTA in East Providence, RI, will incorporate arts and diversity through “Who We Are,” a school-wide year-long program. The school will invite artists to speak to students and teachers about diversity and the arts in preparation for the culmination of the PTA’s Reflections Arts Program. Teachers, parents, administrators, and artists will work with each classroom on teaching culture and arts. The school will conduct a “Who We Are” Arts Fair and Diversity Night where the first-ever “Who We Are” tile art wall will be announced. It will contain subsequent permanent installations of 60 student-created tiles. Soon after, the PTA will begin reviving the school’s learning environment through a continuing program that will foster learning, appreciation of the arts, and respect for diversity.

The grant recipients were chosen based on creativity of the program, and the number of at-risk students who are reached, among other criteria. 

The grant program complements PTA’s long-standing commitment to quality arts education in public schools by providing funds to local PTAs to establish or enhance school arts programs in one or more arts areas: visual arts, photography, music (including dance), and literature (including theater).

About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.