Community Folk Art Center holds Creative Arts Academy auditions

Community Folk Art Center holds Creative Arts Academy auditionsJune 29, 2009Cjala Surratt

The Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) has announced the launch of its new pre-professional intensive youth arts training program, the Creative Arts Academy (CAA). The goal of the Creative Arts Academy is to engage, nurture and empower young people from the City of Syracuse through the arts and prepare students for advanced study in the visual and expressive arts.

The CAA was formerly called the Kuumba Project. It was established in 2007 by the collective vision of the Linda Littlejohn and Margie Gantt of the South Side Initiative at Syracuse University and Carol Charles of the CFAC. Littlejohn and Gantt developed, implemented and managed the program. All CAA programs and direction are now under the sole management of the Community Folk Art Center.

“We believe that the arts provide a sound foundation for young people resulting in an improved sense of self, fortifying them to perform better in school and unearth their infinite potential,” says CFAC Executive Director Kheli Willetts.

Young people will earn admission to the program through the audition process. For registration guidelines and to schedule an audition, contact CFAC at 442-2230 or cfac@syr.edu. Auditions and portfolio reviews will take place at CFAC July 11 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and July 12 from 1-4 p.m. CAA auditions will also be held Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. and Aug. 2 from 1-4 p.m.

Artistic disciplines include dance, theater, music, creative writing and visual arts, including drawing, painting, ceramics and mixed media. CAA will admit students with various levels of experience and expertise who have raw potential and a demonstrated commitment to the arts. Although the program is open to all residents of the City of Syracuse, CFAC is especially committed to those who live in underserved and underrepresented communities.

It is critical that the pre-professional arts education experience engages body and mind. Focused concentration on an individual arts medium will be coupled with a course of study that involves learning the history of each discipline and, in particular, the impact African diasporan artists have made within the field. The goal is to provide a well-rounded arts education experience so that students are prepared to continue their studies beyond high school. In addition, the academy will collaborate with area artists, schools and organizations to provide enriching experiences in visual and expressive arts.

Once students are admitted to the academy, they will remain with the program until graduation.

CAA instructors are professional artists who understand the value of learning about their discipline in addition to performing it. Instruction is designed to immerse students in their field of study, as well as create the space for individual talents to emerge.

For more information about the Creative Arts Academy or to inquire about other CFAC youth programming, call 442-2230 or e-mail cfac@syr.edu.