 White Plains, NY - Westchester Arts Council announced new artist residences in the city of Mount Vernon, underserved in the area art education. The project is funded by New York State Senator Ruth Hassell- Thompson and features Westchester County artists in classroom settings.
The artist residencies in Mount Vernon include three teaching artists who will bring their expertise into the classroom, and engage in art projects with students and their classroom teachers that focus on Egyptian clay sculpture and mosaic murals. An artist residency is a highly structured program that features a sequential series of participatory workshops, helping students to master curricula content in the classroom as well as address NYS Standards in the Arts. It fosters learning in and through the arts during involvement in a creative arts project and gives students the opportunity to become active learners. For this reason, many educators consider residencies to be a vital instructional tool. The artists and their school placements are as follows; Judith Leire, Longfellow Elementary School; Diane Cherr, Hamilton Elementary School; and Haifa Bint-Kadi, Graham Elementary School.
“Increasingly, research is validating the important role the arts play in learning and human development,” says Janet Langsam, Executive Director of the Westchester Arts Council. “The Arts Council provides continuous training for artists, enabling them to enhance their skills to work effectively in schools.”
New York State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, advocate of the arts for our children, was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2000. In 1993, Ms. Hassell-Thompson was elected to the Mount Vernon City Council, serving as Council President and Acting Mayor. In this position, she was Vice Chairperson of the Urban Renewal Board and held other numerous titles and responsibilities. She currently represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester Counties.
Westchester Arts Council, founded in 1965, is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. In 1998, the Arts Council purchased 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, now known as the Arts Exchange, and has since developed the building as a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community.
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