Business Concept Statement

We had to write a Business Concept Statement for homework, and as I re-read mine, I'm beginning to re-think it quite a bit. But for now it reads...

I would like to create a a community arts program for public school children so that they get to experience the arts in their everyday school life. There are not many programs like this in the South, therefore I think this is why a program such as this is needed. Having the arts integrated into their education will allow children to experience a deeper level of learning. A program such as this will be convenient because children will be offered so many opportunities while in school that parents would usually have to put their child in after school activities for them to experience.

Urban Gateways

So, in my first post I talked about what I hope to do with my life. Now I'm going to tell you how I came to this decision. Last semester I had this light bulb moment where I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life, however, when I went to talk to Dr. Laff (a professor that works in our career services office) he enlightened me with so many new ideas. He talked to me about all the things I love: dance, the arts, sharing the arts with others, etc. and helped me to realize all of the possibilities I could do with all of my loves. One awesome program he showed me was an organization called, Urban Gateways. This is a program that was started by Jessie Woods. On the front page of their website this is what is says, "Urban Gateways specializes in bringing the best of the visual, literary, media and performing arts to children in school-based and community settings throughout the Chicago area. Founded in 1961, Urban Gateways excels at deepening the artistic experience for all youth by ensuring that the arts play a critical role in every child's education." This is exactly what I think every child deserves, and since I will most likely live in South Carolina for the remainder of my life, I would love for something such as this program to be started in our state.

Hopes...and Dreams...

I am taking a class entitled: "The Business of the Arts." Creating this blog is a class assignment, but I think it will help me to organize all the crazy thoughts that I have running through my head about what I want to do with my life. Last semester I decided that I no longer wanted to get a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, because choreographing is not something that I have a passion for anymore. I loved to choreograph in high school, but I have learned that there are other things that I love so much more now. I consider myself a member of the arts community, and I have considered myself a member since elementary school (obviously, I didn't consciously when I was 6, but looking back on it now, I do). Now, instead of making art, I want to help others promote their art, and share art with everyone, especially children. I was educated in the arts just as much as I was educated in all other areas and I believe it is so important for children to be educated in this way. I feel like I received a deeper level of education because I went to an arts magnet school for elementary, middle, and high school. Having the opportunity to go to music, dance, and art class as well as go to math, science, and English class allowed me to learn more fully. I do not think the arts are emphasized enough in South Carolina Public Schools, and I would love to help change this. This is my hope for the future, for the arts to be more fully integrated into public school education. I'm not sure how I'm going to get there yet, but this is still my dream.