OUTCOME :

471 students from 69 schools, public, private, and homeschooled enrolled in one or more of our 53 offerings, online, hybrid or in person on one of four school campuses on two islands. While the majority of classes were given on Saturdays, students enjoyed afterschool workshops and special events as well. The most popular were virtual dance classes for Keiki PreK-3. This supports our belief that our children need more movement — structured, regular and expressive since the pandemic took so much of this away from them!

While designed to change students lives, two other stakeholders groups discovered welcome changes. The thirty professional artists hired to teach of course, were thrilled to be back, sharing their art. And most surprising, the educational partners shared administrative paths and methods for getting things done! That has been a joy!

Many of the students lives have been changed through this program. Many report that they tried classes and arts experiences they've secretly — or not so secretly — wanted to because the barriers of cost and travel were eliminated. They learned not just the art they studied but whether they enjoyed it! Passions were ignited and in some, they were not, but the appreciation for that art remained!

One student in particular stands out. Autistic, this teen loved to sing. But the anxiety of performing, even in front of a class, was almost crippling. Mom said that he had tried and failed to even show up before. But because the class size was small, and free of charge, no grades, or recitals, he attended for the entire 20 week offering of Vocal Auditions. And on the last day, the Sound Design class miked him up as he stood alone on the Bright Theatre stage, singing full out to his recorded track for his teacher, class, and the Sound Design students as well. A truly special moment.