LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Performing Arts Learning Center received its second $5,000 check, Tuesday. Carol Yotsuda, representing the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance, was joined by Kaua‘i Board member Maggie Cox of the state Board of Education in making the presentation to
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Performing Arts Learning Center received its second $5,000 check, Tuesday.
Carol Yotsuda, representing the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance, was joined by Kaua‘i Board member Maggie Cox of the state Board of Education in making the presentation to Dennis McGraw, Aaron Martin and Kaua‘i High School principal Linda Smith.
The Hawai‘i Arts Alliance received a gift of $110,000 to enhance arts education opportunities within the state Department of Education, states a HAA release.
The bulk of the gift is to focus on the Performing Arts Centers which provide performance skills to 1,000 students each year and countless others who are exposed to the arts as audience members.
The gift was intended to challenge other donors to raise the level of support for the arts, with each of the eight high school performing arts learning center having to match donations to the initial $5,000 to receive a second grant installment.
Tuesday’s presentation was the Kaua‘i Performing Arts Learning Center’s second installment after raising the matching $5,000.
“We have to thank the generous community donors who came forward,” McGraw said. “There are more than 30 names of people and organizations that contributed and we really want to thank everyone.”
Of the eight schools that received the first grants, six have made its match and were scheduled to receive its second grant.
The first donations were used to pay for spring productions, scholarships for students, rental costs and other education needs.
According to the release, without these funds, many of the programs would not have taken place due to across-the-board cuts in operating budgets last year.
Baldwin High School Performing Arts Learning Center, Castle Performing Arts Center, Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center, Nanakuli High and Intermediate Performing Arts Center and the Performing Arts Center of Kapoli join Kaua‘i Performing Arts Learning Center in making its matches. Hilo High School Performing Arts Learning Center and the Alliance for Drama Education’s T-Shirt Theatre at Farrington High School are working hard and are close to making its matches.
Visit www.hawaiiartsalliance.org for more information, or to make a contribution.
