Innovative Projects at Shenandoah Receive Funding
Grants from the Marion Park Lewis Foundation will help Shenandoah University connect more community members –young and old –with the performing arts.
From left, grant recipients Kendra Whitlock & Michael Pizzi; Marion Lewis, founder of the Marion Park Lewis Foundation for the Arts.
Grants from the Marion Park Lewis Foundation will help Shenandoah University connect more community members – young and old – with the performing arts.
Kendra Ingram, managing director for Shenandoah Conservatory, has received a grant of $2,000 from the Marion Park Lewis Foundation to support an educational outreach pilot project to be conducted in association with the 2011-12 Performing Arts Live season. In conjunction with each of four performances, participating community members will engage in hands-on activities with guest artists and Shenandoah faculty. Activities might include a jam session with teaching artists, a sing-along of traditional African music or a masterclass. “Community members will not only experience a performance, but also experience the art first hand,” said Ingram.
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Michael Pizzi also received a $2,000 grant to lead a pilot project in which performing arts classes will be offered to children with autism spectrum disorders. Focus will be on use of the performing arts to enable participation, increase self esteem and develop social skills. Occupational therapy and upper-level music therapy students will serve as instructors. Dr. Pizzi said, “Children with disabilities rarely have an opportunity to participate in performing arts classes due to limiting factors imposed by families, communities and societal roles. In addition to educating participants in the performing arts, the project will educate children and the community about the potential each of us has to be a contributing member of a community.”
The Marion Park Lewis Foundation was established in 1992 to provide arts education opportunities to residents of the northern Shenandoah Valley. Since then, more than $1 million in grants have been awarded. For more information, visit www.mplf-arts.org.