Straz Center provides free arts enrichment to community

Fifty-one local organizations have been selected by the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory for its Arts Education Partnerships Program for the 2019-20 academic year. 

Through its Arts Education Partnerships Program, now in its fifteenth year, the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory works with under-served area schools, agencies and community organizations by providing high-quality individualized performing arts programming and/or tickets to shows at The Straz. 

These organizations were selected after a comprehensive process that included in-person interviews and written applications: 

Advanced partners: Patricia J. Sullivan Elementary School, Metropolitan Ministries, Inc., Academy Prep of Tampa Bay, St. Peter Claver Catholic School, Firehouse Cultural Center, Inc., St. Joseph Catholic School, MacDill Airforce Base Youth Programs, East Tampa Academy, Pepin Academies.

Intermediate Partners: B.C. Graham Elementary School, Ben Hill Middle School, Burnett Middle School, Centre for Girls, Children’s Home Society: Mort Elementary, Florida Institute for Community Studies, Gaither High School, Gigi’s Playhouse, MacDonald Training Center, Pyramid, Inc., RCMA Wimauma/Leadership Academy, Sulphur Springs YMCA, Young Middle School.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, Community Charter School, Florida Institute for Community Studies, , Young Middle School, RCMA Wimauma/Leadership Academy and 

General partners: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc., Brandon High School, Champions for Children: Layla’s House, Community Charter School of Excellence, Dunbar Elemenatry, Greco Middle School (NEW), 

Ippolito Elementary School (NEW), Project LINK & WWcB, Inc. Collaborative at Edison Elementary,

Rampello Downtown Partnership K-8 Magnet School, Tampa Housing Authority, The Franciscan Center, 

Woodridge Elementary School

Affiliate partners: Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services, Pasco County School District, Positive Spin, Inc., University Area Community Development Corporation (University Area CDC), Weinberg Village Assisted Living, Youth and Family Alternatives, Inc.

Professional Learning Community: Hillsborough County Public Schools – Magnet Office, FAME Academy at River Ridge High School, Gibbs PCCA High School, Howard W. Blake High School, Muller Magnet Elementary School, Orange Grove Middle Magnet School, Philip Shore Magnet Elementary School, Progress Village Middle Magnet School, Seminole High School, Walton Academy for the Performing Arts Charter School and Manatee School for the Arts

This program would not be possible without strong community support. The 2018-2019 Arts Education Partnerships Program was supported in part by the Couch Family Foundation, Hard Rock Heals Foundation, The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, MetLife Foundation, The Spurlino Foundation, Triad Foundation, T. Rowe Price Foundation and Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. 

More information is available by calling 813.222.1040 and at www.patelconservatory.org. The accredited Patel Conservatory offers classes in dance, music and theater for students of all ages and experience levels. Each year, the Patel Conservatory and the Straz Center’s arts education programs enrich the lives of more than 50,000 students in our classrooms, on our stages and through the community.

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