Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is committed to the idea that the arts are for everyone. Unfortunately, access to the arts is anything but equal. Some schools don’t offer arts education at all, and some students don’t have the money to enroll in private art classes. Monthaven is trying to break down those barriers through its arts outreach programming.
The MACC created its flagship outreach program, called EC:CO, in 2017. In the years since, Monthaven’s outreach teachers have engaged thousands of under-resourced youth and families in various arts activities. Why are these activities so important? We asked Susan Prado. In addition to being the MACC’s grants director, Susan is also an accomplished visual artist, and she played a key role in designing Monthaven’s outreach program.
1. What is arts outreach, and why is it important?
Susan Prado: Arts outreach is a type of arts education programming that we take directly into the community. Its purpose is to provide under-resourced populations with a creative experience, something they otherwise would not be able to afford. It’s important because the arts are therapeutic. The arts have the power to unlock creativity, especially in our kids. It teaches them how to think critically and to solve problems. That’s something that will be important to them both in their personal lives and future business experiences.
2. Monthaven’s arts outreach program is called EC:CO. What does that mean and how does it work?
SP: EC:CO is the acronym we came up with when we first created our arts outreach program in 2017. It stands for, Exhibition Connect: Community Outreach. Our goal was to find a way to connect our participants with the exhibitions that we present each season at Monthaven. The programming introduces people to art history and to the various techniques artists use to create their works. It’s a way of making museum art seem more relatable and approach. As an example, during our first Picasso ceramics exhibit, we had kids create their own Picasso-like images on paper plates. The kids were totally into it and, I think, many of them were pleasantly surprised by the quality of their own works. They were quite simply amazing.
3. Who are some of our arts outreach partners?
SP: Right now, we have nine community partners, but we expect that number to grow this fall. Our outreach teachers hold weekly sessions at Cottage Cove, which works with at-risk children, and to Shalom Zone, which provides enrichment programs to children in Sumner County. We also send outreach teachers to work with our community at the Hendersonville Public Library, and they do workshops for military veterans at the VFW Post 9851 in Hendersonville. Our teachers also engage in projects with Camp Cope through the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry for youth of incarcerated parents. They provide arts outreach to the S’MORE Reading Camp, Dream Streets in North Nashville, and Unity Learning Center, which offers extended learning programs for Sumner County Schools. Finally, our outreach teachers work with the Hendersonville Police Department to provide pop-up workshops with various groups in our community.
4. Monthaven’s arts outreach programs are offered free to participants. But of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. How are the MACC’s outreach programs funded?
SP: We have been so fortunate to have partners who share our vision and support what we do. We have an amazing relationship with the Tennessee Arts Commission. Their Arts Pathways for Youth Grant and Partnership Support Grant have allowed Monthaven to reach thousands of participants. Without question, Memorial Foundation has provided us with invaluable support. The seed money they provided us in 2018 really made our outreach programming possible. We’ve also received important funding from the Dettwiller Foundation, Advanced Financial, Hays Foundation and so many others.
5. Finally, if a community organization wants to take advantage of the MACC’s outreach programming, what should it do?
SP: They should reach out to us by phone, email, carrier pigeon or whatever means works best for them. We’re very responsive and want to work with any organization whose mission aligns with the vision of our arts outreach program. They can call our office at (615) 822-0789 or email me at susan@monthavenarts.org. We’re excited to find ways to work with you.