How many Atlanta youngsters never have the opportunity to experience the splendor of a full symphony orchestra? Or, gaze upon an authentic Monet canvas? Or, sit in a dark theatre and ride the emotional waves of a compelling stage drama? The Ford-Woodruff Center Academy for the Arts will provide a group of metro Atlanta high school juniors with cultural arts experiences as well as an appreciation for the Arts.

The Ford-Woodruff Center Academy for the Arts is an academic year-long program of visual and performing arts education and activities. High school juniors attend a variety of extra-curricular performing andvisual arts lectures, exhibits and performances at Woodruff Arts Center companies which include: Alliance Theatre Company, Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art and 14th Street Theatre.

Although each company has its own outstanding education and outreach program, the Academy will be a collective effort to give participants a broad exposure to both visual and performing arts.

Initiated and administered by Woodruff Arts Center, the Academy's two pilot years have been funded by a generous grant from Ford Motor Company. "Ford Motor Company agreed to fund the Woodruff Center Academy for the Arts because it is a new program with a clearly defined education objective sponsored by what Ford considers to be the most outstanding arts organization in Atlanta. We believe that this program will truly give high school juniors hands-on education and social experiences. Although Ford primarily emphasizes math and science education, it believes that art education is also important. Ford is proud to be a part of the community's effort to further arts education in Atlanta," said Bob Cucci, Atlanta Chairman of Ford's Community Relations Committee.

The program targets students who have leadership potential and an interest in the arts but have had little (or no) opportunity to experience the arts. Participants are nominated by their principals, who may nominate two students per year, and are accepted for participation on a first-come, first-served basis. Plans call for 100 participants each of the two pilot years and for the program to ultimately grow to accommodate students statewide.

Educator Barbara Levy, academic consultant for the Academy and coordinator of The Collaborative Education Partnership, believes arts education is vital to children. "Academics are so important, but a whole child is made up of many parts and the arts feed important parts of the child that cannot be ignored. Our current generation of students is close to being arts illiterate. Woodruff Arts Center should be applauded for taking a leadership role in arts literacy in Atlanta with the Academy program," Levy said, adding, "Some children just don't enjoy great success in academics, but can enjoy success in the arts and get the positive reinforcement and self-esteem every child needs through their participation in the arts."

Making the decision to launch the Academy was an easy one for Woodruff Center CEO Shelton G. Stanfill. "It came down to one question, 'If not here, where?' The Academy is something we - Atlanta and society - need and Woodruff Center is the perfect place for it. No other arts organization in the South can offer these students the same broad variety of arts experiences. It is important that Woodruff Center take a leadership role in arts education. We're finding ways to remove barriers and open more doors for children to experience visual and performing arts."

For more information on the Ford-Woodruff Center Academy for the Arts, call 404.733.4599, or email academy@woodruffcenter.org.

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