Northeast Queens students get big boost for arts
Schools in Whitestone and Auburndale among 17 area institutions to get cultural funding
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A northeast Queens lawmaker
announced the expansion
of cultural program funding
to two public schools in the
area.
This fall, P.S. 32 in Auburndale
and P.S. 209 in Whitestone
will be amongst 17 schools
to receive funding for CASA
(Cultural After School Adventures)
programs, according
to Councilman Paul Vallone’s
office.
City Council members
throughout the five boroughs
designate funds for the arts
initiatives, which are then administered
by the Department
of Cultural Affairs. Since 2014,
Vallone raised funding from
$100,000 to $340,000, allowing
northeast Queens institutions
to provide unique cultural
education opportunities to
students.
“The CASA program,
which allows students to participate
in cultural programming
outside of the classroom,
provides our students with
exciting, hands-on experiences
that broaden their horizons
and open their minds,”
said Vallone. “As we welcome
a new school year, I’m proud
once again to partner with our
great local cultural organizations
to bring these unique
programs to more of our northeast
Queens schools.”
Through the CASA program,
P.S. 32 and P.S. 209 along
with the other schools will
receive grant funding and
pair with an eligible nonprofit
community organization.
Over the course of several
months, students engage in
after-school arts educational
programming, with a final
performance or event towards
the end of the school year.
During the 2018-19 school
year, Vallone secured CASA
grant funding for 15 schools,
all of which are participating
in the program this year.
“The funding that CASA
brings, especially for a school
like P.S. 159Q, help us create
P.S. 31 partnered with the Alley Pond Environmental Center for the
CASA program Photo courtesy of Councilman Vallone’s offi ce
a mutually developed program
that will fund multiple residencies
that help support the
school’s efforts. The arts can
be a very powerful tool in helping
these special students become
successful in their lives.
A strong after-school program
is essential to a great school
these days and is strongly favored
by parents,” said Chris
Forte, education liaison for
Marquis Studio.
Below is a list of northeast
Queens schools and nonprofits
that will participate in CASA
programming this year:
• TBD – P.S. 32Q
• TBD – P.S. 209Q
• Alley Pond Environmental
Center, Inc. – P.S. 31Q
• Conrad Poppenhusen Association
– P.S. 29Q
• Flushing Council on Culture
and the Arts, Inc. – P.S.
184Q
• Flushing Council on Culture
and the Arts, Inc. – P.S.
193Q
• Magic Box Productions,
Inc. – J.H.S. 194Q
• Marquis Studios, Ltd. –
P.S. 159Q
• Marquis Studios, Ltd. –
P.S. 94Q
• Midori Foundation, Inc. –
J.H.S. 67Q
• Midori Foundation, Inc. –
P.S. 98Q
• Queens College Foundation,
Inc. – P.S. 129Q
• Queens Museum of Art –
BELL Academy
• Queens Theatre In The
Park, Inc. – Public School
130Q
• Queens Theatre In The
Park, Inc. – P.S. 169Q
• Research Foundation of
the City University of New
York – J.H.S. 185Q
• Wildlife Conservation Society
– P.S. 79Q
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