In its five-year existence, ArtsAlive@KCS has sponsored programs including:
School-wide mask making project and town parade
Dixie Land Jazz Concert
Dexter Singleton
The Rama Project
Sankofa Kuumba
Sherman Chamber Ensemble

In-school visiting artists:
sculpture
painting
life drawing
dance
and storytelling

Trips to:
Carnegie Hall
Warner Theater (Momix Dance Premiere)
Lincoln Center & Harlem Renaissance tour
National Theater of the Performing Arts production
of Le Malade Imaginaire

ArtsAlive knows that all children are inherently artistic and that arts enrichment programs are essential components of a comprehensive education.  We want to expand the world of Kent Center School’s students.  We believe in the principle that the arts play a major role in developing the whole child.  Through the arts we will open doors to a wider world of imagination and experience for our students.

Our goal is to create opportunities for our students to have thought-provoking experiences with artists.  This endeavor encourages creative expression, diversity of thought, and an awareness of cultural heritages which will build a community that looks outward to a bigger world.  In May 2006, The Connecticut Association of Schools designated ArtsAlive an “Exemplary Program in Connecticut Elementary Schools”. 

Our programs encompass all the arts – both traditional and non-traditional – and include dance, music, theatre, storytelling and the visual arts.  ArtsAlive has selected poetry as the theme the 2007-2008 school year. The committee has purchased poetry books for the school.  Each classroom received new books and each student received his or her own copy of How to Eat a Poem. ArtsAlive is also sponsoring a poetry workshop for all KCS teachers on October 16, 2007. 

Other programs for this project will include in-school classroom and auditorium visits as well as field trips that are carefully planned to enrich the Kent Center School curriculum.  Keep an eye out for more exciting programs coming soon.

ArtsAlive is looking for individuals who have public relations experience to work with our committee.  If you are interested, please contact Linda Miller at millerl@kentcenter.com
or 927-3537 ext. 145.

Save The Date - The ArtsAlive fund-raiser, Dancing Cheek to Cheek will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2008.  SEE FLYER

Funding for the ArtsAlive project primarily depends on support from individuals in the Kent community.

Contacts:

Ron Viafore                                                                           Julia Samartini
Principal                                                                                  Chairman
P.O. Box 219                                                                          860-927-0016
Kent, CT 06757                                                                      juljim@rcn.com
(860) 927-3537 fax: (860) 927-3925
rviafore@kentcenter.com

ArtsAlive@KCS Executive Board
Julia Samartini, Chairman
Paulette Menniti-Pizzo, President
Dianne Johnson, Vice-President
Abby Palmer, Treasurer
Niva Clark, Secretary

Board of Directors
Nancy Ackerman
Holly Adams
Al Coffill
Stephanie Grusauski
Linda Miller
Kathleen Nadire
David Poirier
Mary Terrizzi
Valerie Vega
Ron Viafore