Community Outreach + Visual/Performing Arts Education Programs
The Acadia Foundation funds many visual + performing arts education, talent development and humanitarian programs that serve communities across the United States. Our support of these programs is in keeping with The Acadia Foundation’s commitment to support visual + performing arts creators, provide arts education opportunities and community access to visual art, music, dance, and theater. Funding for these programs is made possible by contributions from Acadia Foundation members, other foundations, corporations and performing arts lovers throughout the country.
Music for the Heart
Since the beginning of recorded history, music has played a significant role in healing. That is why The Acadia Foundation has created a Music for the Heart Division dedicated to supporting programs that improve the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the body through music. We are very excited about the progress made through initiatives that employ music as a means of helping people through difficult conditions and situations. Here is a link to a variety of programs funded through The Acadia Foundation Music for the Heart Division which focus on addressing challenges such as autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, homelessness, depression, Alzheimer's disease, grief and aphasia.
Hear The People Sing
The Acadia Foundation’s "Hear The People Sing" program was established - an honorable nod to the musical theatre great Claude-Michel Schönberg - to bring the musical theatre experience to young students nationwide. The program is named for one of the songs from his musical, Les Misérables. This educational program offers a generation of students who may never have been to the theater their first musical theatre experience. There is no cost to schools or students participating in the "Hear The People Sing" program. "Hear The People Sing" is funded by many donors through gifts to The Acadia Foundation in support of this program
Safe Haven Project
The Safe Haven Project formalizes The Acadia Foundation as an LGBTQ inclusive environment. Activities encompass regular and structured trainings for staff, students, and students’ families, as well as signage that affirms The Acadia Foundation as a welcoming environment to to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation. High School students are designated as Student Allies, a leadership position that enables students to attend in-depth workshops on diversity and tolerance and contribute to the development of the Safe Haven Project.
Looking for LGBTQ resources? Check out The Center’s Resource Guide.
Music in the Schools
The Acadia Foundation with VH1 Save The Music and Alfred Music to provide folios, sheet music, band arrangements and method books to the public schools nationwide selected by VH1 Save The Music to receive musical instruments, thereby providing quality music for students to play as they learn their instruments.
Summer Guitar Project
The Summer Guitar Project goal is to provide musical instruments and visiting composers and songwriters to various music camps in the communities that we serve. The Acadia Foundation assists the Summer Guitar Project by providing guitars and guitar instructors, enabling campers to actively participate in guitar and songwriting lessons during the summer months.
SupportMusic.com
The Acadia Foundation has teamed up with the Music Education Coalition, the nation's largest grass roots initiative in support of school music programs. Key to this initiative is www.SupportMusic.com an innovative website that simplifies the advocacy process by allowing community members to customize campaigns to address specific problems.
Spotlight on Broadway
Spotlight on Broadway is The Acadia Foundation’s program for schools that are not Title I. Schools pay a percentage the total fee based on the number of students who are not on free lunch, while The Acadia Foundation underwrites the portion of students who are receiving free lunch.
P.S. Broadway - ACTE I
In collaboration with Rosie’s Theater Kids, P.S. Broadway is a 15-week, in-school program designed to introduce students to American musical theater. Every fifth grade class at participating schools receives in-depth exposure to the theatrical arts. This program is provided at no cost or at a highly subsidized rate to ensure equitable access to all students and schools.
The Acadia Foundation serves the schools who need us most. Our criteria for choosing schools:
Those with the highest level of need, based on the percentage of students receiving free lunch.
A strong commitment and shared vision by both the principal and teaching staff.
Ability to provide a space for weekly classes furnished with a tuned piano.
A site visit by The Acadia Foundation to determine if these criteria can be met.
P. S. Broadway - ACTE II
ACTE II (A Commitment to Excellence) is The Acadia Foundations’ effort-based, pre-professional program for outstanding graduates of PS Broadway. In collaboration with Rosie’s Theater Kids, every student receives a full scholarship to participate beginning the summer after they finish 5th grade. In the lower school, students in grades 6-8 participate in rigorous arts classes, and receive intensive preparation to apply to and audition for specialized and selective public high schools.
P. S. Broadway - ACTE III
Students from ACTE II Lower School who commit to excellence may continue with the scholarship program through high school. In collaboration with Rosie’s Theater Kids, The Acadia Foundation invests in these students in every way, offering personalized training in the arts, academic tutoring, SAT and Regents test preparation, college application guidance, and a myriad of social services to ensure that they graduate from high school. Our training prepares these students to act professionally in any chosen field, including the performing arts, and every student pursues some sort of post-high-school education.
Performing Arts Summer Intensive
The Summer Intensive uses technique classes to establish a strong foundation of performing arts skills. Students meet Monday through Friday for full-day arts classes, and become fully immersed in tap, ballet, theater dance, drama, music and voice. Our newest students, rising 6th graders, attend for two weeks, while our seasoned students attend for up to six weeks.
Arts +
Arts Plus (A+) supplements The Acadia Foundation’s programs by providing students with tutoring, coaching, and skills development. This ensures students succeed in high school, college, and beyond.
In collaboration with Rosie’s Theater Kids, every eighth grader enjoys academic assistance, private audition coaching, and application advice for specialized and selective public performing arts high schools. Ninth and tenth graders receive structured tutoring tailored to their needs. Every high school junior and senior receives individual guidance on college selection, college application assistance, audition preparation, and ACT tutoring. All high schoolers also receive Regents prep.