2007-08 Grant Recipients

Artists for the Arts is pleased to announce our 2007-08 arts education grant recipients.

Artists for the Arts is a 100% volunteer, non-profit organization committed to arts education in Portland-area schools. Our Board and membership comprise artists, parents and teachers who come together in the belief that arts education is crucial to the development of confident, creative and community-minded children. As former Governor John Kitzhaber once said, “It is [the] capacity to wonder, to dream and to imagine that allows each generation to fulfill its responsibility to the next.”

Each year, Artists for the Arts awards between $8000 - $10,000 directly to Portland-area arts educators, based on proposals for a variety of project and supply needs. This year’s grants, distributed in January 2008 and totaling $8665, were awarded to:

• ACT at Roosevelt High School and Renee Straube (Portland) for the creation of clay mask sculptures exploring culture and identity


• Metropolitan Learning Center and Ned Hascall (Portland) for a collaborative photography project between Lent Elementary and MLC titled “What I See,” in which both schools present photos at Froelick Gallery examining students’ daily lives


• Bridger Elementary School and Erica Lindgren (Portland) for the purchase of glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones and hand drums
  


• Rosa Parks Elementary and Jan Bilodeaux (Portland) for books and supplies toward the 5th grade class sculpture and performance exploring notable American Artists
  


• Pioneer School and Michael Laframboise (Lebanon) for a Northwest Children’s Theater residency
  


• Lewis Elementary School and Anthony Jamesbarry (Portland) for the purchase of hand drums and African drums
  


• Renaissance Arts Academy and Melody Rockwell (Portland) for the creation and publication of books written by students
  


• Riverside Elementary School and Betsy Williamson (Milwaukie) for the creation of experiential “Artful Artists” kits
  


• Creston Elementary and Anne Murphy (Portland) for an Earth Day performance
  


• Marysville Elementary and Barbara Liles (Portland) for song-based picture books
  


• Gilbert Heights Elementary and Kathleen Lower (Portland) for the attendance of a “Go, Dog, Go” theater performance
  


• Woodlawn Elementary and Jeremy Thomas (Portland) for the creation of a garden mural
  


• Aloha High School and Matthew Fox (Aloha) for a Diversity Week documentary
  

2006 Grant Recipients

In 2006, AFTA grants totaled approximately $10,000 and were awarded to 15 metro-area schools for art projects ranging from a comic book drawing study to a piano lab to creation of mosaic stepping stones for a community garden.

The schools awarded include 3 in the North Clackamas district and 12 in the Portland Public Schools district, representing a total of 9 Elementary schools, 4 Middle schools and 2 High schools. Some funds will be applied primarily to purchase supplies and equipment, while others will be used to meet staffing resource needs. 

2005 Grant Recipients

In 2005, AFTA also granted approximately $10,000, awarded to a total of 11 schools for projects including an in-school art gallery; artist-in-residence programs; live theater productions, including a play based on research of Northeast Portland’s history; mural projects; and the acquisition of audio equipment for live performances.

Schools awarded included the Beaverton (1 grant), Parkrose (1 grant) and Portland Public Schools (9 grants) districts.