90+ Arts and Leadership Programs for NYC Teens

Yes, school's coming.  Not here yet, but on it's way.  As teens, you'll have a few choices about what you get to study at school - but, yes, there are likely a lot of limits.

What you CAN choose is what to do with your time outside of school.  (Other than homework.)  That is, you can choose to follow an interest if you know where to look for it...

That's where our guide comes in.  It's got info on over 90 programs around the city for creative, gutsy teens.  Many are free, many offer scholarships, many are looking for YOU.

Download our Resource Guide and make some choices for yourself.

Ten Things Adults Can Do at the Festival Saturday

1.  Get moving with a cup of MUD coffee (FAB Cafe, 12-5pm)
2.  Hula Hoop for exercise  (Hula Hooping Workshop, Jules Skloot, 1pm, Street Stage)
3.  Buy some art (Luck You, Maureen Coyle and others, 12-5pm)
4.  Sharpen your artistic eye  (New Museum workshop, 2:45pm, Big Tent)
5.  Play 4-square  (Games Area, 12-5pm)
6.  Recycle and renew your home decor  (EcoAction Network - Electronics recycling, and art workshops to create vases & containers from recycled materials, 12-5pm)
7.  Get a massage  (East Village Chiropractic, $1/minute chair massage to benefit the Festival)
8.  Win a summer outing (Free raffle, Festival Central, prizes from Brooklyn Cyclones, NY Shakespeare Festival, NY Surf School, Bike and Roll, & Coney Island Sideshow)
9.  Grab a cafe table & a snack and celebrate local heros (Awards Ceremony, 3:30pm, with Councilwoman Rosie Mendez)
10. Contemplate a new artistic career (workshops for filmmakers, fashion designers, and playwrights, Big Tent, 2-5pm)

bonus
11.  Feel great about the younger generation!   - performances and exhibitions by over 200 young artists, ages 12-21, to hear, see, enjoy, and take pleasure in!  All day long!

Ten Things Teens Can Do at the Festival Saturday

Phony Ppl, Music Stage, 2010

1.  Sharpen your auditioning skills  (Auditioning Workshop,  NYU Tisch, 1pm, Big Tent)
2.  Tag yourself a T  (Whitney Youth Insights booth, 'Spray Painting T's & Hats', 1-4pm)
3.  Learn stage combat skills (Stage Combat Workshop, Jose Perez IV, Street Stage, 1:30pm)
4.  Have your photography portfolio reviewed  (Portfolio Review - Art Tables, Sean Hemmerle, 1pm email for appt. to info@downtownart.org)
5.  Get with a program (Visit over 20 tables and pick up your free "NYC Youth Resource Guide to Arts & Leadership Programs" at Festival Central)
6.  Compare notes on singer/songwriters  (Zen Anton, Alice Quinn-Makwaia, Fiona Silver, Eli Greenhoe, August Glory, Elisa Lovelie & Victor Gurbo, Music Stage, 1-5pm)
7.  Move your filmmaking up a notch  (Young Filmmakers discussion, Chris Chan Roberson, Big Tent, 2pm)
8.  Get the low-down on the real life of a playwright  (Young Playwrights discussion, 4pm, Fernanda Coppel, Eljon Wardally, and Elizabeth Borjsza of Young Playwrights, Inc.)
9.  Make yourself a new accessory from recycled goods  (Plarn Chokers & Maneiac Scarves, Eco Action art tables, 12-5pm)
10.  Take part in a mass battle (Street Stage, Stage Combat II, Jose Perez IV, 4:30pm)

bonus
11.  Grab a bite and a table from the FAB Cafe and see some amazing dancers, musicians, and singers - all teens themselves - Downtown Art, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, TADA!, The Possibility Project, The Point, Third Street Jazz Ensemble, Henry Street Settlement's Urban Youth Theater, Maple Street Band, And the Rats Grew Wilder, Dig It, The Door, ACAI Capoeira... and MORE!

Ten things kids can do at the Festival of Young Artists

Young Audiences at the Festival 2010

1. Catch the circus: ArtFarm's "Circus for a Fragile Planet" (12pm) 
2. Make tin can stilts (EcoAction art tables, 12-5pm)
3. Have their fortune told by a monkey  (Fortune Telling Monkey, LES Girls Club Tent, 12-5pm) 
4. Spray paint a hat  (Whitney Youth Insights table, 1-4pm)
5. Play theater games  (Street Stage, NY NeoFuturists, 2:15pm) 
6. See a choreographed fight on stage (Jose Perez IV and troupe, Dance Stage, 3pm) 
7. Share the street with a capoeira troupe  (ACAI, Street Stage, 2:40pm) 
8. Play hopscotch or hula hoop (Street, play area, 12-5pm) 
9. Get an elaborately painted face (Lower Eastside Girl's Club Tent, 12-5pm) 
10. Learn how to draw manga (Yali Lin/HiArt, Art Tables, 2:15pm)

and bonus...
Rock out with teen bands!  (Music Stage - And the Rats Grew Wilder - 12:15pm, Dig It 12:40pm, Fiona Silver 2:05, Lena Feliciano Hansen 2:55, Oscar Hallas 3:05, Maple Street Band 4:40pm)

Kudos to "Gowns for Girls" - a project of the LES Girls Club

This Saturday, 'Gowns for Girls' - a program of the Lower Eastside Girls Club, will get a special Leadership Award at the Festival (3:30pm, DanceStage). 

It can be tough to be a girl on prom night -- there's a lot of Cinderella in the air -- a lot of stress and concern about being pretty, having the right clothes. 

A progressive organization like the amazingly creative Lower Eastside Girls Club might have thought prom dresses were too silly to be involved with.  After all, their focus is on building Ethical, Entrepreneurial, and Environmental awareness.  A bit more serious than a tulle petticoat.  But the Girls' Club has too big a heart to ignore the lesser issues that make up all our lives - and too much understanding as well. 

Their website shouted out:  "Make a Girls Club member’s prom night one to remember (and help her save her money for college)!"  And through their efforts, hundreds of donated gowns and accessories make their way into the hands of young women from the Lower East Side. 

How many girl hearts went to their proms feeling beautiful?  Hard to know - but we feel quite sure that those gowns boosted confidence in a simple way that won't be forgotten for many, many years.

Congratulations to Lisa Donlan

Downtown Art's 'LOCAL HERO' Award this year is going to Lisa Donlan for her work on behalf of schoolchildren in our community.  Councilwoman Rosie Mendez will present the award at the Festival (Dance Stage, 3:30pm).

Lisa has worked long and hard to advocate for a great public school education for all children.  She's become an expert on the ins and outs of city education policies and a strong, informed leader, trusted by many.  For the past 4 years, Donlan has served as President of the neighborhood Community Education Council. 

It's always a thrill to recognize the hard work and commitment of people like Lisa - people whose contribution isn't publicly applauded often enough. 

What to do with your old electronics? Bring them to us!

EcoAction Network will not only be at the Festival this Saturday leading hands-on workshops in artmaking with recycled materials - but they'll be taking your old computers, mp3 players, sony playstations -- anything electronic that you need to get rid of -- and recycling them! 

Remember, these are items you can't drop off at the Goodwill or Salvation Army.  So pack your bag and leave the Festival a little lighter!

Move Your Art Forward - mentoring at the Festival

Being a young artist can be daunting!  Move yourself forward by learning from those who have gone before you!  Our Festival has a range of opportunities for learning.

One such special opportunity is our Young Filmmakers' discussion with Chris Chan Roberson (NYU Tisch), at 2:15pm.

Besides recruiting talent for NYU Tisch, Chris has won a Telly Award for his editing work while at Robert Small Entertainment and was an editor for television shows on Comedy Central, The Biography Channel, and TV Land.  Chris has also worked on a number of projects with the Narrative Trust, a company that focuses on oral history. Independently he has edited internet-based projects for Christian McBride, Sting, and Sony Music, as well as internet episodes for The Burg, The All-For-Nots and All's Faire.  At NYU, Chris teaches Digital Frame & Sequence, Visual Colloquium, Urban Ensemble, Future Filmmakers Workshop and Summer Filmmakers Workshop.

Other mentoring workshops:
1pm  Auditioning - led by Rosemary Quinn and Patricia Decker of NYU Tisch School of the Arts
1pm  Portfolio review - by renowned photographer Sean Hemmerle and art curator Joyce Manalo (email info@downtownart.org for appointment)
2:15pm  Young Filmmakers discussion with Chris Chan Roberson, NYU Tisch
4pm  Young Playwrights, a discussion with Elizabeth Bojsza, Literary Manager for Young Playwrights, Inc., and two working playwrights - Fernanda Coppel and Eljon Wardally
4:30pm  Young Fashion Designers discussion with Annica Paganakis and James Ott of 'The Row', a design firm headed by the Olsen twins.

Yali Lin leads 'Manga Madness' workshop at the Festival!

HiArt's Yali Lin (林雅丽) will lead 'Manga Madness', a workshop for young artists where you can perfect (or learn!) to draw manga with one of the most distinguished practitioners of the style.  The workshop will be held Saturday, June 11 at the Festival, on East 4th Street between Second Ave & Bowery, at 2pm, mid block.

Yali was born in southern China, lived there for 11 years, and moved to New York with her family in 1995. Although she loves the city, she missed climbing trees, walking barefoot on grasses, chasing dragonflies near the river... those days when she was very close to nature. That's why she loves Totoro and her Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli) DVD collection!! Whisper of the Heart is her favorite <3

Here in New York, Yali attended LaGuardia High School and the School of Visual Arts.  After graduating from the BFA Cartooning program in 2006, she illustrated Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet - Manga Edition, which published by Wiley in February 2008. Her second book: The Scarlet Letter - Manga Edition was released in February 2009. When Yali is not at her drawing table, she teaches Cartooning courses to young teens in lower Manhattan, NYC at places like HiArt Kids. 

Now in its 14th year, HiArt! is New York's most prestigious interdisciplinary arts immersion program for kids. Working with a wide range of ages - from toddlers to teens - HiArt! puts New York's most up and coming young artists together with MFA style programming to bring kids in the city new challenges, new horizons and plenty of real art programming including Culture Bugs! - the amazing summer mini-camp featuring Manga, Sculpture, Painting, Fabric-based Art and so much more -- and for the Fall:   Manga Madness with Yali Lin, Manga Styles of the 60s and 70s with Zoe Greenbaum, Paint with Ellen Berkenblit, Come in and Paint:  Paint and Collage with Sydney Chastain-Chapman, Mixed Media Mix-up with Johana Skalsky, Opera and Art!, Lisa's Letters, Silkscreening with Martin Roth.  HiArt! is also the home of The Time In Children's Arts Initiative, bringing whole classes of the city's youngest and most at-risk kids OUT of public schools  and immersing them in the full HiArt! program as a part of their regular school day.  Once a week, every single week of of the school year!    http://www.hiartkids.com/ or call 212-209-1552 for more information.  

Portfolio Review with Sean Hemmerle

 

Birdman, Beirut, 2007 -

photo by Sean Hemmerle

For young photographers, this is a remarkable chance to get feedback on your portfolio from an extraordinarily gifted photographer - and a really nice guy. 

Reserve a spot with Sean between 1 and 2pm, by emailing info@downtownart.org 

Since witnessing 9/11 in New York, SEAN HEMMERLE has traveled the world, documenting the effects of war.  Born in Tempe, Arizona, he served in the army for four years, before attending the University of Miami and earning an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York.  He's been a regular contributor to Time (twice selected for Time's Photos of the Year), New York, and Metropolis magazines; his work has been exhibited in several major museums.   To see more of Sean's work, go to http://seanhemmerle.com/

 

World Trade Center 2001; photo by Sean Hemmle







Audition Workshop with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts

Rosemary Quinn and Patricia Decker travel across the country every year and see thousands of auditions.  Who better to advise young actors on how to create a memorable audition piece?  Come with questions, get some answers!  Like what to look for when searching for audition material, how to rehearse, sorting through feedback, and strategies to make your audition stand out.
Festival Workshop:  1pm, Big Tent

Rosemary Quinn - NYU Tisch, Director, Experimental Theater Wing
Rosemary has lived in New York City for over twenty years, working as an actress, director, teacher, arts administrator and producer. She originated roles in numerous experimental theater productions, working with Mabou Mines, The Talking Band, The Other Theater and The Roy Hart Theatre. She frequently collaborated with the director Joseph Chaikin and has performed in a number of Jean-Claude van Itallie’s plays including Sunset Freeway, which was written for her. Rosemary has studied the voice work of The Roy Hart Theatre since 1983 and teaches and directs at their center in the south of France in the summers. She has guest taught at Hampshire, Naropa, Princeton and Williams Colleges. Rosemary is also the director of the Tisch High School Summer Acting Program in Paris, France.

Patricia Decker - NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Director of Recruitment
Patricia Decker is the Director of Recruitment at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She started her career at Tisch in the Department of Undergraduate Drama, first as the Internship Coordinator, then as the Coordinator of the Summer High School Drama Program. After that she served as Manager of Admissions and Applicant Services for ten years. Patricia serves on the board of directors of the Rabbit Hole Ensemble and the Art Schools Network. She is also a writer, performer and producer who has worked in both Philadelphia and New York. Philadelphia: Wilma Theatre, The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Big Mess Theatre, Pennsylvania Ballet. New York: Manhattan Theatre Club, Theatre Communications Group, Teleotheater, SPF. She has performed her own work at Dixon Place, CB's Gallery and Cornelia Street Café. Patricia is also an accomplished Tarot card reader. BA in Theatre from Temple University

Hula Hoops and Stage Combat!

We're excited to announce two fabulous ways to get moving at the Festival!  All free - all on the street - all fun!

1pm - Hula Hooping with Jules Skloot (30 mins., open to all)
We've got some hoops or bring your own! 

2pm and 4pm - Stage Combat with Jose Perez IV - (30 mins. each, open to all)
Learn a few safe moves and then participate in a mass battle on the street!
 

Jules Skloot is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in Brooklyn.  She has an MFA in dance from Sarah Lawrence, was awarded a creative residency at Dance Theater Workshop, and has taught at BAX.  Jules brings with her a commitment to providing learning experiences and creative connections for and between people of all ages.

Jose Perez IV is a creator, performer, and fight choreographer.  A native of Saginaw and recent graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he has performed at the Ohio Theatre, HERE Arts Center, Joe's Pub, Galapagos Art Center, and the American Indian Community House, as well as several NYC public schools.  He believes in hope in hopeless times and the power of music.

Circus for a Fragile Planet

The Lower Eastside Girls Club has brought ArtFarm's 'Circus for A Fragile Planet' to this year's Festival! 

ArtFarm is 'a unique blend of science and circus.'  This year's show is 'SUBMERGED', and ArtFarm tells us it delivers a powerful environmental message through acrobatics, stilting, juggling, dancing, music and physical comedy.

'Circus for a Fragile Planet' is a departure from the Festival's usual practice of only putting young artists on stage - but when the Girls' Club, our delightful and super cool neighbors, offered to bring a circus to the Festival!... well, it wasn't an offer we felt we had any business refusing.

To accompany the Circus - the Girls' Club is setting up a 'Green Midway' under their pink tent!  More on that to come...

'SUBMERGED' - Circus for a Fragile Planet
12pm performance
Saturday, June 11
East 4th Street between Second Ave & Bowery
FREE
The NYC Festival of Young Artists
presented by ArtFarm & the Lower Eastside Girls' Club
Downtown Art

Launch!

2010: Dancer from THE DOOR

Welcome to the NYC Festival of Young Artists & Leaders blog!  A mouthful, yes... but then, there's a lot to this Festival! 

We are working with all our collaborators to pin down the details, but things are looking really great for June 11th.  Updates, details, and inside scoops to be posted here regularly over the next four weeks.

We're especially pleased to be working with the Lower Eastside Girls Club on this year's festival.  They're bringing us both a circus and a midway... (more to come!)