Friday, June 21, 2013

Vermont

4 states.  4 days.  1400 miles driven.  303 songs played on my iPod.  1 life changed forever.

I concluded my first round of my journey of giving with a trip to the beautiful state of Vermont.  Before I tell you what I did today, let me just say that if it's possible to fall in love with a state, I think I've found love <3

I may seriously have to quit my job and move there!  I was asked today what I would do if I was suddenly fired and wished to pursue my philanthropic interests full time.  My reply was that it wasn't something I had seriously thought about before, and I didn't really have a good answer.  I was told (in good humor) to think about it on the long car ride home.  Well, I did, and I think part of the answer would involve me moving to Vermont ;-)

Okay, let's get to business.  Today I visited the Vermont Arts Exchange in North Bennington, VT.  First let me start by saying that they have the most amazing space (including some adorable chickens and a babbling brook)!  Pictures could never do it justice, nevertheless you can enjoy those I've posted below (only a few outside shots, but you need to see it from the inside to really appreciate it).  My description of what they do also could never do them justice because there's just so much GOOD they do for their community, all with the arts!.  As I mentioned in a previous post about the place I visited in Rhode Island, it was only by visiting that I could get a sense of how truly necessary the Vermont Arts Exchange is in what it does for its community.  But I know you want to hear it from me, so let me try to sum it up as follows (I'm not sure what I'm about to write qualifies as, but I hope you enjoy it...and this is completely spontaneous!):
Pardon me kind sir, but can you tell me if that's the way to the Vermont Arts Exchange?
Yes, just down that narrow lane.
And if I may bother you for one last favor - can you tell me what exactly is an "arts exchange"?
Imagine a place where young and old - no matter their background, status, or ability - are able to explore art in all of its various forms.  Now imagine that the simple act of exploring art helps bring those people together, helps bring relief to those that are troubled, helps bring those people a sense of belonging, and offers a community much needed outreach to include all of its members.
Can one space really do all of that?
Oh yes.  That, and so much more.  Follow that path and you're about to find out.

Oh yes, I almost forgot!  What did the Vermont Arts Exchange request?  I was very happy to deliver a digital camera so that the one currently being borrowed doesn't have to be shared as much :-)





Thursday, June 20, 2013

Maine

Today I was able to visit the lovely city of Portland, ME.  There I delivered a piano bench (perfect timing for their 10th Annual International Piano Festival starting tomorrow) and six music stands (replacing others that have developed rust) to the Portland Conservatory of Music.

The Portland Conservatory of Music brings music education to anyone willing to learn, regardless of their ability level.  I heard about the youngest student participating in the piano festival who is only 11 years old, and I also heard about an 82 year old student learning the piano for the first time!

Sadly I also learned that music education has been drastically cut in Portland's local schools, making what the Portland Conservatory of Music does even more vital for their community.  Many of the teachers from the local schools instead come to the Portland Conservatory of Music in order to continue teaching music in the Portland area.  In their schools some are only able to conduct small lessons either before school or after school because they are no longer able to fit that type of music education in to their standard curriculums.

I'm glad that Portland has such a great organization to fill the void that their schools have left behind.  It's a shame that Portland can't have the best of both worlds, as I witnessed in Portsmouth, NH...


New Hampshire

This week I've targeted four different organizations across four different states, in four consecutive days (I know, what was I thinking?).  Day 2 took me to New Hampshire and a visit to the Portsmouth Music & Arts Center (PMAC).  What can I tell you about PMAC, and also New Hampshire?  Well, it's really nice to see music and art alive and well in the 9th state to join the Union!  Keep reading and I'll explain :-)

I took a tour of the current home of PMAC (there's one hint).  I was shown the various rooms where different types of music instruction are held.  PMAC is mostly focused on music education, but they do have a growing art space too (which is also relevant since the majority of the items requested by their teachers - paints, brushes, palettes - related to art…although there was also one request for a metronome that I was happy to supply).

One of the great things about PMAC is that they really do strive to make music and art accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or economic status.  And they do all of this even where the local schools have their own music and art programs.  I asked if PMAC supplemented or complimented the schools in this regard.  The answer is a bit of both.  I was told one story of a student athlete who simply did not have the time to commit to a full sports schedule and a full band schedule at school.  So he is still able to have a music education that fits his schedule by enrolling at PMAC.  In that case PMAC is clearly complimenting the schools.  In an art scenario, I was told how students are able to focus on specific types of art projects that their schools simply cannot squeeze in to their standard curriculums.  So PMAC is able to also supplement school programs to really offer specialized learning opportunities.

So what does any of this have to do with music and art flourishing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?  Well, the really good news is that PMAC has outgrown its current space.  In order to accommodate their growing student enrollment, space and storage needs, and their vision for the future, PMAC is moving to a larger space!  And this leads to their "campaign for the future" - a crowdfunding campaign.

You've all seen crowdfunding campaigns before, but this one has a neat concept that has me hooked.  When PMAC moves to their new space, they are going to have an "Arts Mentor Wall".  PMAC is going to commission an artist to create a wall honoring all music/arts mentors who have been named as part of this campaign (through a $10 donation in their honor).  The more mentions a person gets, the more prominent their name will appear on this wall.  You all know how much I love new ideas for generating support and awareness for different organizations, so you know why I like this idea so much.  It's very creative, and I think I might even have to borrow the concept somehow the next time I run my own campaign ;-)




Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Rhode Island

I learned something today - you can research an organization online, visit their Web site, read about what they do - but when you actually visit and SEE what they do, you realize that all of what you read is probably just 20% of what they actually do.  And it's that other 80% - the little things, the small moments of inspiration - that truly forms the core of that organization and is something you can't understand or experience unless you see it for yourself.

Today I visited this wonderful organization in Rhode Island called New Urban Arts and delivered a digital camera that they requested (one of their staff members, who himself was a student at New Urban Arts over 10 years ago, is a freelance photographer who is leaving to further pursue his interests in photography - so that is leaving them short a camera).

New Urban Arts is a place where students (primarily high school) can come after school (or join summer programs) and simply explore their creativity in the arts (either through guided projects or just free form).  They have mentors who come in and help guide the students through different arts disciplines to foster their understanding, learning, and creativity.  One of the students took me on a tour of their facility.  Apart from the obvious work spaces to create various types of art, they had computers, a library, a dark room, and a silk screen room (which I really enjoyed seeing as it was new experience for me) to name a few.

There were two specific things I experienced today that I'd like to share with you.  One of those is an annual publication called FLiP.  It gives students the opportunity to actually publish their work and share that with others (e.g. donors, the community, colleges, etc.).  I am flipping through issue numbers 9 and 10 as I write this - they were kind enough to give me copies :-)

The other experience I want to share is something that makes up that other 80%.  One of the staff members shared a story with me of some students who were presented with...oh let's call it a learning opportunity.  The students were planning a trip and had to make some challenging decisions about it.  These were decisions the students never imagined having to make, yet they had a place to ask questions and learn about a life experience outside of experiencing the arts.

The point of both of these experiences I am sharing (and I will leave you this as my final thoughts) is to express how important organizations like these are to our youth, to our communities, and to the health of our society and nation.  And it's the people that run these organizations and volunteer their time who are truly remarkable for what they do!  I am humbled and inspired by those I met today.

Okay, since this was the first place I visited on my journey of giving I had a lot to say (apologies for the length).  I probably won't write as much for the others.  What can I say - I'm excited :-)