Fourteen talented Pinellas County students who aspire to be musicians, actors, dancers or visual artists are able to attend an Arts Camp this summer due to awards received from the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s Funding Futures Program. Creative Clay, St. Pete Mad, the Y Dance Academy, USF School of Music Double Reed Camp, and the Arts Conservatory for Teens nominated creative, aspiring at-risk and/or low income students to attend their programs for the Summer while parents of these students filled out applications showing artistic and financial need.
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s Funding Futures Student Award program identifies and encourages talented at-risk emerging artists, ages 10-17 in Pinellas County seeking St. Petersburg programs in dance, music, jazz, voice, theater, digital arts, photography, cinematic arts or visual arts. Funding Futures is open to all talented artists regardless of ethnic, social or economic background, or ability/disability.
Student Sophia W. writes, “This upcoming year I will be taking creative photography as one of my electives. I’m very excited. I have never used a camera because of my financial situation and would like to know what it’s like. I am hoping I can get this Funding Futures Grant so I can continue my arts education, become a well-rounded person, and a great artist.”
Parent Mrs. Moon states, “We definitely have some financial obstacles, but I’d just like to tell you how much this program has meant to her. She’s overcome some major struggles with dyslexia, battling some depression and anxiety, and overcoming her issues with her alcoholic father all through her music and drama. She has become an entirely different child in the last two years, developing a self-worth, confidence in her talent, and developing an actual social life.“
St. Pete Arts Alliance’s Funding Futures programs (Summer & Fall) are dedicated to helping students nurture their creative interests and develop their expressive talent by providing funding to eligible students and connecting them to local after school arts programs or summer arts camps.
John Collins, Executive Director of the Arts Alliance states, “These awards help change young lives. We thank our supporters and look forward to providing after-school program funding this Fall.”
Major funding sources from Tampa Bay Times Employee Matching Gifts, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, St. Petersburg Seafood & Music Festival and the Jacarlene Family Foundationhave helped build the Funding Futures Grant Program. If you are interested in supporting Funding Futures, your gift will help a young artist advance their interest in art and further develop their creative thinking, problem solving, communication and cooperation skills.
Visit: https://stpeteartsalliance.org/donate-specific-project/—