Since 1995, South Shore Arts has conducted a variety of nationally recognized award-winning educational outreach programs with area schools, as well as local public and private organizations. South Shore Arts strongly believes that the arts have a positive impact on the lives of children and young adults, both socially and academically. The role of the arts should not be underestimated in the educational process, for their effects are great. This has been borne out in countless studies. Some of the benefits of a student’s exposure to the arts include:

• increased test scores—according to a 1996 study by the College Entrance Examination Board, students of the arts consistently outperform peers with limited arts exposure on the SAT, scoring on average 48 points higher on verbal skills and 34 points higher on math;
  
• a stimulated desire to learn;
  
• increased knowledge and acceptance of other cultures;
  
• enhanced self-esteem and self-discipline.
  

Most often these studies are qualitative, rather than quantitative in nature. However, analysis conducted by James Catterall of the Department of Education’s NELS:88 database of 25,000 students has confirmed on macroscopic scale that students that have had a high level of participation in arts-related activities or education consistently outperform peers that have had little or no arts exposure in numerous areas. One of Catterall’s most exciting findings, especially in application to South Shore Arts programming, was that participation in the arts makes a significantly greater difference to students from low-income backgrounds than for high-income students. This is especially important if one keeps in mind that, most often, the degree of a student’s exposure to the arts is directly correlated to his/her socioeconomic status, or the overall socioeconomic conditions of that student’s school district. This study, as well as others, is contained in the anthology Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning. This publication is available in PDF format online at www.aep-arts.org.

Whether it’s a pre-school child discovering the ability to create, or a middle school youth leaning to make good choices, art is an excellent tool to investigate ideas and reflect personal values. Often, visual art projects take inspiration from classroom themes, music, performances, literature or art from the past. To learn more about specific programs, please contact the South Shore Arts Education Department at 219/836.1839, ext. 101.

Since the inception of its everykid program in 1995, South Shore Arts has developed many successful partnerships with schools and organizations, offering creative opportunities for children and families. Meeting the particular needs of each partnership has led to positive relationships that benefit those being served. South Shore Arts is able to custom design programs by offering a variety of disciplines and themes to inspire subject matter. New partnerships and innovative programs are always in the works.

A sampling of current community partnerships includes:

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana
  
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County
  
• Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University
  
• City of Hammond
  
• Crown Point Parks and Recreation Department
  
• Geminus Corporation
  
• Hammond Department of Planning and Development
• Hammond YMCA
  
• Hobart YMCA
  
• Lake County Boys & Girls Clubs
  
• Lighthouse Charter Academies
  
• Mental Health Association
  
• Munster Parks and Recreation Department
  
• Northwest Family Services
  
• Northwest Indiana Symphony
  
• Partners in Education, Hammond
  
• Ridgewood Arts Foundation
  
• Saint Catherine of Sienna, Hammond
  
• School City of East Chicago
  
• School City of Gary
  
• School City of Hammond
  

Funding for the everykid program comes from individuals, organization, corporations and foundations throughout our community and beyond. The Beaux Arts Ball and Annual Fund provide additional support. Thanks to the donations received, South Shore Arts can continue to provide and expand arts education opportunities to children and youth along the South Shore.

Our Funders:

• Annual Fund Donors
  
• Anonymous
  
• Beaux Arts Ball sponsors and attendees
  
• Chase
  
• City of Crown Point
  
• City of Hammond
  
• Crown Point Community Foundation
  
• Foundations of East Chicago
  
• Harris NA
  
• Carol L. Kutak
  
• Legacy Foundation
  
• Legacy Foundation, George Uzelac Fund
  
• Mittal Steel
  
• NiSource
  
• Powers and Sons Construction
  
• Spiccia Scholarship Fund
  
• Tri Kappa, Gamma Nu Chapter
  
• Dean & Barbara White Family Foundation
  

Perhaps the best way to assess the value of the South Shore Arts everykid program and art classes is to ask the students.

Porter County Boys & Girls Club
Alyssa Essex, age 9, described the process of making an apple: “First you use purple; then blue; then red. Then, you rub it together with your finger. You can use black and white to make it feel sculpted.” Her favorite part: “And I like getting messy!”

Hobart YMCA
“I’m making a mask like the one my great-grandfather gave me when I was a little baby,” said Kayla Brown, age 7. “I’m African-American, so it’s a cool project for me. I want to learn more about my heritage.”

“You get to use your imagination and make a lot of different things with stuff you don’t have at home,” said Shawn Lauerman, age 7. Shawn had plans for his new mask: “I’m going to use it to scare my mom.”

21ST Century Learning Program, Hammond
“I can show off my talents and it inspires me to be an artist when I grow up. Your art can tell a story about your life,” said Alexis Bustamante, age 9.

Drama Camp
During this year’s Summer Drama Camp, students learned what it’s like to put on a production. “We all had to use different voices. Mine was the hardest,” said Leslie Lopez, who played the Witch. “I had to use a scratchy voice.” Stephanie Zaccone started out shy, but soon found the courage to play the Lion. “We learned to be enthusiastic, to project and to block,” shared Cassidy Schwartz, who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Even weeks after camp was over, Cassidy and Dana Handler, who played the Scarecrow, were still reciting their lines. “We have the whole play memorized,” Dana boasted.

Adult Oil Painting Class
“I find it relaxing; something I can do anytime,” said Andy Brennan. “It’s not just physically learning to paint, but also, gaining a respect for what goes into creating an artwork; now, when I visit a gallery or museum and look at art, I appreciate other artists.” Andy believes that the social aspect of painting class expands the lives of many of the students in his class: “I also enjoy meeting others and painting with people from all walks of life.”

Raku Pottery Class
“What’s different about this class is that the students are involved in the firing process,” said Shelly Goodmanson of the Raku class she took this summer. “You don’t know what the finished piece will look like, so each one is a mysterious surprise,” she said of the Japanese inspired method of firing clay that creates a beautifully unique finish.

If your organization or school is interested in creating a custom-made art program, take a look at our fee schedule and examples of current outreach programs and after-school scholarship classes. These demonstrate the diversity of ages and types of students that South Shore Arts can serve. You may contact any of our centers for further information on educational outreach programming. South Shore Arts welcomes the opportunity to work with your school or organization.

BECOMING A SOUTH SHORE ARTS ART INSTRUCTOR

South Shore Arts is looking for instructors to teach classes in drama, dance, and the visual arts, such as drawing, painting, ceramics, and more. South Shore Arts offers art classes for ages 3 to adult at each of our three facilities in Munster, Hammond, and Crown Point. In addition, South Shore Arts sends instructors out into the community in order to teach classes in schools, day care facilities, and other organizations. The hours and schedules are very flexible. Instructors can teach as little as one class a week or as many as 10 classes a week, depending on area of expertise and availability.

Qualifications required: at least a four-year degree in the Visual or Performing Arts or an Education degree with art certification. No prior teaching experience required, although preferred.

Please submit a resume, list of references, and representation of your work to: Director of Education, South Shore Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd., Munster, IN 46321.