Education Award - Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center

The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center is presented the Education Award for its unflagging mission of offering programs that bring arts and cultural experiences to people who have been typically underserved by other arts organizations. Intentionally reaching out to the Covington Independent Schools, the Carnegie Center's arts programs and performance schedule give local inner-city youth opportunities to experience a variety of performances from many cultures and familiarize children with an arts environment to cultivate life skills important to personal, economic and social success. Programs include Expanding Youth Horizons, which introduces 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in the Covington Independent School System to the rich cultural heritage of the region and introduces children to Shakespeare in a fun and engaging, age-appropriate format. ArtStop, a discipline-based art education after-school program, provides a creative nurturing environment for children 5-15 to expand their artistic experiences.

Through a collaborative effort with the James E. Biggs Early Childhood Education Center, preschool youth from nearby Biggs come to the Carnegie Center twice a month for hands-on visual arts activities tied to the Center's rotating exhibit. Everyone Is An Artist, an annual multi-generational visual and performing arts event, features activities by art specialists and Carnegie Kids Connection brings together children from Biggs, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Covington Public Schools to participate in interactive performing arts events in the theater. The Carnegie Kids Connection brings children from the center's collaborative partners together to celebrate and participate in interactive performing arts events in the theater.

The recently completed Eva G. Farris Education Center is specifically for arts education activities. This addition has substantially expanded the center's ability to make programs available to the local population. The Covington area benefits in countless ways from having this vibrant, active, arts education center in its community.

Previous recipients: Henrietta Roush Scott, Hindman Settlement School, Lila Davis Bellando, Kentucky Educational Television, Norma E. Brown, Christian County Schools, Mildred Berkey, Hancock County Schools, Westport Middle School, Jean Green, Bige Towery. Jr., Ballard High School, Judy Sizemore, VSA arts of Kentucky, Dr. Diane Roketenetz/James E. Biggs Early Childhood Education Center, Daviess County Public Schools, Nancy Carpenter, Collaborative for Teaching & Learning, Diane Downs, Deborah M. Shannon, Vernell Bennett, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival