Community Partnerships
Overview
The Kennedy Center is committed to supporting Pre-K to grade 12 students learning in, through, and about the arts through partnerships with District of Columbia public schools, and by providing access to Kennedy Center performances and events to schools and organizations that serve Pre-K to grade 12 students in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Description
Community Partnerships was established in 1992 to provide underserved Pre-K to grade 12 students in Washington, DC public and charter schools access to quality arts education opportunities. The DC Partnership Schools Initiative provides Kennedy Center resources that align with individual school arts education plans. Principals and faculty from the partnership schools participate in a strategic planning process with the Kennedy Center to develop their schools' arts education vision, goals, and action plan. Partership schools then select Kennedy Center resources that support their vision and goals including artists in schools, performance opportunities, and professional development for teachers and administrators. Fifteen District of Columbia public and charter schools have been selected to partner with the Kennedy Center in the 2011-12 school year. Program effectiveness is measured through written evaluations and meetings from artists, principals, students, and teachers.
Assistance is provided to under-resourced schools and organizations that serve Pre-K to grade 12 to attend Kennedy Center performances and events.
Programs
- DC Partnership Schools Initiative
- Duke Ellington School Partnership
- "Get on the Bus" Program (part of America's Promise Initiative)
- Community Outreach Ticket Program
- Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency
Mission
The mission of the Kennedy Center's DC Partnership Schools Initiative is to support education of the whole child by enhancing partner schools' existing arts education programs.
Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of the Community Partnerships program are to:
- Develop partnerships with select District of Columbia public and charter schools to support arts education as a model of engagement in an urban school district
- Build commitment to the arts as an integral part of a child's whole education, particularly for children enrolled in urban, high poverty public schools
- Develop principals' and teachers' abilities to develop, articulate and implement an arts education vision and plan
- Engage students in arts learning through Kennedy Center's education programs led by teaching and performing artists
- Encourage and support teachers' ability to incorporate arts integrated instruction in curriculum to support student learning
- Provide opportunities for students to learn about the arts by attending Kennedy Center performances
- Share knowledge with other organizations interested in developing similar partnerships in urban school districts
Contact Us:
For further information about Community Partnerships programs, please contact us.
Community Partnerships, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by
David and Alice Rubenstein.
Additional support is provided by Capital One Bank; the Carter and Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust; Harman Family Foundation;
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation; The Kiplinger Foundation; The Kirstein Family Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation;
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Newman's Own Foundation; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; and the U.S. Department of Education.
