2014 L/A ARTS MAINE WRITES OPEN MIC CELEBRATION
TUESDAY, MARCH 18TH
OLIN ARTS CENTER, BATES COLLEGE
Please note: This program is not open to the general public.
L/A Arts is pleased to announce that all eleven classes from Lewiston and Auburn public schools participating in Arts in Education program Maine Writes will come together for an “Open Mic” celebration. This is the culminating event for this program, which began in November 2013 at four Lewiston (Farwell, Geiger, and Montello Elementary, and LewistonMiddle School) and two Auburn schools (SherwoodHeights, Edward Little High School). Classroom residencies took place over the course of a ten-week (twenty-class) program, taught by an L/A Arts professional poetry teaching artist partnered with a public school classroom teacher. Afterward, an across district poetry slam tournament took place, some of the winners of which went on to compete in Global Writes invitational competitions with schools from New York City. All of the poetry slam tournaments took place live via teleconferencing between schools. The two winning teams for their respective competitions were: Farwell Elementary School & Edward Little High School, the former of which won the Maine based district wide tournament, while they and the latter won their Global Writes competitions.
During this “Open Mic” event, interested students will have their names drawn to get up and perform their pieces in front of the approximately 200 students and 15 teachers who participated in the program. In addition, awards will be given out, and guest performances will take place.
L/A Arts program Maine Writes enhances student literacy skills, understanding of the poetic form, and builds community through the study of poetry. The work applies student learning through the composition and performance of originally written poems. These pieces are based on themes inspired by the poetry students have studied, and topics from their lives and community that have importance to them.
Edward Little High School Student LaJaal Anguba reciting her poem
(Photo by J. Hyland)
The program is supported by the reception of four grants: Maine Arts Commission – SMART, National Endowment for the Arts – Art Works, Quimby Family Foundation, and The Betterment Fund. Maine Writes is taking place with support from two partnering New York City based arts in education organizations, Global Writes (http://globalwrites.org) and Dreamyard Project (www.dreamyard.com). During the 2012-13 school year, these two organizations invited L/A Arts and the Lewiston/Auburn Public Schools to establish Maine Writes, joining their community of districts from across the country in arts in education sharing opportunities through innovative technologies.
This program is made possible by the following additional supporting funders:
The Lewiston Public Schools, The Davis Family Foundation, The George and Helen Ladd Foundation, Mechanics Savings Bank, Center Street Dental.
For more information contact:
Joshua Vink, Executive Director, LAArts: josh.vink@laarts.org
L/A Arts 221 Lisbon Street, LewistonMaine04240