Cincinnati Arts Association
650 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Hybrid Arts Accessibility Subsidy (Virtual Programming and Ticket / Transportation)
Grant Application:
Hybrid Arts Accessibility Subsidy is CAA’s response to the disparity of arts access continuously caused by trauma. The COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, generational poverty, and in-school arts education cuts are some of the issues our Education and Community Engagement (ECE) programs target. For CAA and school youth, human connection through the arts has shown both loss and gain within hybridized learning environments. Through virtual and in-person SCHOOLTIME performances and classroom ARTISTS ON TOUR programming, CAA enhances human connection, social-emotional learning, and classroom education – thus, building resiliency for life’s challenges and community growth. This project ensures year-round access for teachers, students, and families to quality art products by national and local artists. This project will provide ‘on-demand’ and ‘live-streamed’ virtual performances, transportation and tickets to in-person performances at the Aronoff Center, and classroom arts infusion. All engagements are enhanced with continued learning resources beyond our programs.
Grant Evaluation Report:
Dater Foundation support allowed schools and afterschool programs to engage in the arts through streaming performances, accompanying study guides, and in-person workshops and performances. 98% of all participants received a subsidy. The accessibility subsidy allowed classrooms and afterschool partners to engage student learning through the arts. Offering hybrid formats for arts engagements ensured accessibility, affordability, and equity amidst the ‘new normal’ for our communities. Each school’s subsidy requests were granted for SchoolTime On-Demand and SchoolTime In-Person Tickets, Transportation, and Artist on Tour. We increased access to the arts for under-served student populations, including students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, students of color, rural schools, and special needs classes (physical and neuro). The original geographical focus was maintained at 70% of students served qualified for free and reduced lunch. Ohio counties served included Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont, and Highland; Kentucky counties served included Boone, Kenton, and Campbell; Indiana counties served included Dearborn. Closed captions were included in the virtual product, and ASL interpreters were provided at all in-person performances to accommodate hearing-impaired audiences.
SchoolTime On-Demand virtual subsidies ranged from 50%-100%; while all schools qualified for SchoolTime On-Demand virtual subsidies, very few schools received less than 100%. This allowed virtual arts engagements to meet the need of schools with hectic learning schedules, hybridized learning formats, and understaffed teams.
Our SchoolTime In Person Ticket and Transportation Subsidy program for the 2021-22 season concluded in May of 2022 with a finale with Dance Theatre of Harlem co-presented by CAA and the Cincinnati Ballet. CAA provided all schools to attend the Dance Theatre of Harlem at no cost. Unexpected developments: Mermaid Theatre of Novia Scotia had to cancel the in-person scheduled performance for The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites due to prolonged COVID-19 international border travel restrictions. In resolution, they converted The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites to a virtual performance (available April/May 2022). We were able to substitute the in-person performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites with Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. However, due to a COVID-19 surge, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus was canceled entirely. Most importantly, due to the unexpected relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in Spring 2022, we opened our theater doors after a two-year hiatus to provide three performances in-person: Cuentos: Tales from the Latinx World, Finding North, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
We evaluate the SchoolTime In Person Ticket and Transportation Subsidy by the ability to fulfill schools’ requests for assisted participation. Tracking through our ticketing system shows us attendance, sales and various Ticket and Transportation grant assistance levels. Because of generous funders like Louise Taft Semple Foundation, H.b.e.w. & F.r. Luther Foundation, Charles H. Dater Foundation, plus SVOG federal funds, we were able to, once again, provide tickets at no cost for all schools and 90%-100% reimbursement for transportation. We also administered surveys to the participating teachers and leaders, which gauge qualitative feedback for ongoing program refinement. Results affirm the need for the program and the value of show-affiliated study guides and classroom resources.
Website:
http://www.cincinnatiarts.org Amount: $25,000
Date: March 2022
