The arts enhance our lives, stimulate our creativity, and allow us to express our emotions, thoughts, and aspirations through countless forms of artistic expression.The arts are vital to a future of innovation, opportunity and hope.The arts build strong and vibrant communities. Imagination, Investigation, Innovation...Education, Exploration, Experimentation...From music and dance to painting and sculpting, the arts allow us to explore new worlds and to view life from another perspective.
Our creative efforts through the Arts Partnership Program communicate our commitment to ideas that shape the lives of our community's future!
Purpose
The Arts Partnership Program was established in 1996 to invest in the artistic, cultural and educational endeavors of children at the elementary school level, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The African American Forum believes every child should be given the best possible opportunity to succeed and so provides both funding and advocacy for arts programming at Lexington area schools.
Focus
The majority of funding is directed to high-risk Fayette County, Kentucky Public Elementary Schools. Need is based on percentage of students that receive free or reduced lunch (Title 1 schools) and Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) scores. In addition, one school is chosen as an "Arts Education Benchmark School" as a reward for academic and artistic excellence. The Arts Education Benchmark School serves as the standard of excellence against which other schools' achievements can be gauged.
AAF Commits $100,000 to Elementary Schools in the Lexington-Area Over the Next Six Years!
On February 28, 2008, the African American Forum, Inc. announced its commitment to arts programming at high poverty Title I public elementary schools in Fayette County. At a news conference held at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) at Bluegrass, the organization presented eight schools (Booker T. Washington, Cardinal Valley, Harrison, Johnson, Linlee, Northern and Russell Cave. SCAPA at Bluegrass) with checks totaling $18,000, and committed to a total donation of $100,000 over the next six years. Kentucky Education Cabinet Secretary Helen Mountjoy and Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman were present to offer comments about the AAF's Arts Partnership Project.
You Can Help!
Our goal is to increase the level of support provided to our community's schools via the Arts Partnership Program. This goal will be realized through the generous support of both corporate and individual financial contributions.