The Hardy Gallery in Ephraim is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of $1,000 from the Walmart Foundation to support the 2009-2010 ETC (Exposure to Creativity) program.
2009 ETC Students at Studio 330 learning about recording music
The ETC program provides a free arts education program for local students aged 14-18 who attend Gibraltar High School. The program aims to provide these students with extended arts learning experiences and opportunities that supplement traditional school curriculum while giving them the potential to strengthen future academic success.
Since the project’s inception in 2007, the Hardy Gallery has delivered over 80 workshops, educated more than 350 students and provided teaching opportunities to over 30 local artists, serving as both mentors and artists-in- residence. The program consists of two components — two half-day, hands-on creative workshops that every Gibraltar High School student participates in; and, for those who are interested in furthering their skills, a mentor program in the months following the workshops. These mentorships provide encouragement, support, and in-depth training by local artists and creative professionals in an arts field of each student’s choice. The student workshops were completed in October and November 2009, with the mentorships set to launch later this month. This year the Hardy received 18 applications from students interested in furthering in the ETC program. Both of these components are offered at no cost to the students.
Hardy ETC Students learning ceramic studio arts
As a result of information and feedback provided in written evaluations, the Hardy further continues to work in developing the program to better address the student’s needs. Changes this year included off campus sessions for upperclassmen held in instructor studios and galleries while the freshman utilized the Peninsula School of Art campus for a series of “sampler” workshops as well as participation by ComedySportz (a Milwaukee-based educational performance group) to provide a specialized workshop for the students as well as an all-school assembly program wrap-up.
The grant from the Walmart Foundation will be used to partially fund arts personnel as well as training, equipment and supplies used for the program.
“We are excited to receive grant funding from the Wal-Mart Foundation,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, the Hardy Gallery’s Executive Director. “Walmart’s focus on youth education echoes the objectives of the ETC program, and we are grateful for their support. We are truly fortunate to have great community partners to be able to offer and sustain this great program.”
The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit arts organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. For more information about the Hardy, please call 920.854.2210 or visit www.thehardy.org.
The Walmart Foundation strives to provide opportunities that improve the lives of individuals in our communities including our customers and associates. Through financial contributions, in-kind donations and volunteerism, the Walmart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in our four main focus areas: education, workforce development/economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health & wellness. For more information on the Walmart Foundation, please visit http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/203.aspx.
