U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, KENNEDY CENTER AND ORDWAY CENTER PARTNER FOR INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM

.As part of the Global Cultural Initiative announced by First Lady Laura Bush, the US Department of State and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts teamed up to offer a professional development opportunity for emerging arts managers from selected countries.

Ordway Center was invited to be one of fifteen organizations in the nation to host the International Cultural Exchange Fellows Mentoring Program. This three-week intensive fellowship program was designed to energize the work of emerging international arts managers, ages twenty-five to thirty-five, in their own countries by bringing them to the United States and providing them with instructive and informative experiences in the field of arts management. The first week of the fellowship took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. where they focused on nonprofit strategic planning, marketing, and development. During the second week, each participant was hosted by different nonprofit arts organizations across the country. Participants reunited in New York City for the third week where they experienced one of the most culturally dense environments in the United States. The Cultural Fellows Mentoring Program ended in Washington, D.C. with a recap session.

Mr. Kusworo B. Aji from Yogayakarta, Indonesia was in Minnesota from March 11-18, 2008. Aji is the executive director and co-founder of Teatre Garasi, a small theater company in Yogayakarta. Aji’s primary areas of interest were in understanding marketing and institutional positioning; learning best practices on building relationships with corporate funders; and understanding the role of US presenters and the process of booking international tours. Ordway Center worked with the Kennedy Center and other Twin Cities arts organizations to schedule a week of meaningful and educational experiences. Over the eight days, Aji interacted with eight Twin Cities performing arts organizations: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, The Guthrie Theater, Intermedia Arts, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Mu Performing Arts, Pangea World Theater, Park Square Theatre, and Walker Art Center.

Learn more about Mr. Kusworo B. Aji & Teater Garasi

WELLSTONE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS EXPLORE CREATIVE MOVEMENT

Garth Fagan Dance choreographed by Tony award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan, left Ordway Center audiences speechless with their unique blend of dance forms including, modern, Afro-Caribbean, jazz, and ballet.  Garth Fagan Dance captivated more than 5,500 students at the Performing Arts Classrooms on February sixth and seventh. As a part of our ongoing partnership through the Arts Explore program with Wellstone Elementary in Saint Paul, dancer, choreographer and teaching artist Roxane Wallace conducted three in-school dance and creative movement workshops with fourth grade students.  After seeing the performance of Garth Fagan Dance, Roxane led the students through simple technique and improvisation in group and individual exercises.

KENNEDY CENTER WORKSHOP LEADER, DEB BRZOSKA, ENGAGES TWIN CITIES ARTS AND EDUCATION COMMUNITIES

Arts education consultant and national teaching artist Deb Brzoska led a series of workshops in the Twin Cities in mid February.  A national teaching artist for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Ms. Brzoska was invited by Minneapolis Public Schools, Saint Paul Public Schools, and Ordway Center through their three-way partnership in the Partners in Education program.  Working in the topics of arts integration, assessment, and research, Ms. Brzoska drew upon her experiences as a specialist in school reform and as the founding principal of an award-winning arts-centered public school to reach more than 400 teachers, school leaders and arts education professionals in workshops that took place in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.  Ms. Brzoska also served as the keynote speaker for the annual Arts for All Conference led by Saint Paul Public Schools.

CALLING YOUNG ARTISTS: 2008 FESTIVAL VISUAL ART OPPORTUNITIES

ARTwalk—an exhibition of children’s art work in downtown Saint Paul
The ARTwalk is a unique opportunity for schools and community organizations to highlight the visual arts achievements of their young people. As an extension of the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival, the ARTwalk curates children’s artwork from across the state in a month-long exhibit in downtown Saint Paul. ARTwalk is a non-juried exhibition and participants are encouraged to be selective in their entries.

Entries can be submitted on a group or individual basis, and the deadline for submission is March 31, 2008. Art work must be delivered by April 11, and will be on display May 1-June 1, 2008.

Learn more & download entry forms

Children’s ARTcontest - MY MINNESOTA: a creative state of mind
Parents and teachers, submit your young people’s art for the 2008 ARTcontest, MY MINNESOTA: a creative state of mind.  The theme is in celebration of the Minnesota sesquicentennial, 150 years of statehood.  When creating the art, young artists are encouraged to explore their own lives.  What does Minnesota mean to them, what is their favorite place to visit, what are their favorite things to do in Minnesota?  One entry per grade level will be featured on the 2008 Festival Poster.

Extended deadline: March 31, 2008

Learn more & download submission form

ARTmoves Parade
You and your group can be art in motion!  Journey through the Festival grounds in the ARTmoves Parade with giant puppets, kites, flags, music, ARTbikes, or anything you can dream up!

Ordway Center is actively creating partnerships with after-school programs and community organizations to create residency activities for youth, which will culminate in the Festival parade.  Through this program, youth will collaborate with an artist to dream up a concept and work as a team to create a unit of performance art.

Program costs and busing may be subsidized by Ordway Center.

The ARTmoves Parade is Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 1pm.  Workshops can begin as early as March. Contact Eric Olmscheid with your ideas and find out how you and your group can be involved! eolmscheid@ordway.org or 651-282-3017.

Learn more

SAINT PAUL CONSERVATORY FOR PERFORMING ARTISTS J-TERM PROJECTS

J-Term is a three-week intensive performance opportunity for students at The Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists.  There are no academic classes during J-term and a student’s entire schedule is comprised of rehearsals that culminate in public performances.  This year close to 330 students participated in seventeen different projects in eight different venues.  Participating organizations included: The Brave New Workshop, Playwrights Center, Minnesota Opera, Walker West Music Academy, Tu Dance, Maggie Bergeron Dance, Ragamala Dance, Chvala Dance and more.

Learn more about specific J-term projects

VOCALESSENCE: WITNESS YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERTS

This year, VocalEssence’s WITNESS concert celebrated Duke Ellington's amazing jazz career. The concert featured a big band-style orchestra, the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers with baritone soloist Dennis Spears, pianist Sanford Moore, sound effects by Tom Keith, and led by Philip Brunelle. The performance was inspired by the grand old days of radio.  The highlight of the radio program was from Ellington’s “Sacred Concerts.”   More than 6,500 students attended the four concerts on February 19 and 20.

EDUCATION AT ORDWAY CENTER FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Young Artist Initiative (YAI) co-founded by Ordway Center’s Education Advisory Committee member Ben Lacina, was featured in a KARE 11 Extra as they brought Annie Jr. to the stage, March 7-16, at Neighborhood House Theater.  Young Artists Initiative believes that the arts should be accessible to all young people regardless of their race, beliefs or economic status.  YAI has a number of performances and programs throughout the year.  Be sure to check out their KARE 11 Extra!

View YAI  Extra  on KARE 11

Learn more about YAI performances & programs