Complete Schedule

Project Title

Kaleidoscope Series For Youth

Presentation Type

Other (Electronic Copy Not Available)

Keywords

Kaleidoscope series; Performing arts and children--Iowa--Cedar Falls;

Project Summary

The GBPAC’s Kaleidoscope Series for Youth is an educational project whose mission is to transform the lives of youth through the arts. Each season, high quality performances staged by international theater troupes address complex issues such as race, poverty, mental health and other forms of difference. Teachers tell us these performances provide an entry point for discussing difficult issues in the classroom. This level of arts education, when accessible to all, has the power to change the minds and behaviors of individuals, thereby improving our communities. That’s why the GBPAC offers Kaleidoscope programming to schools for just $1 per student. “Buck-a-Kid” has since become a statewide model for many non-profit arts organizations and has been nationally lauded. The Kaleidoscope Series provides multiple opportunities to experience a wide range of performing arts, serves underserved rural communities of Eastern Iowa and accommodates on average 35,000 students each year. The Kaleidoscope Series just celebrated serving its 500,000th student since opening its doors 18 years ago. The GBPAC has hired many well-known, international theater troupes whose sole purpose is programming for youth. Study guides are provided by the companies, allowing teachers to create lessons and activities prior to and after the performances. Teachers, administrators and homeschool teachers see the value of the Kaleidoscope Series for Youth: “I believe this program provides students with a multitude of information to discuss in the classroom. It expands their minds, their thinking and their understanding of the world around them.” The Kaleidoscope Series has become an integrated part of the school curricula, often the high point or foundation for an entire subject area or project. For example, teachers often bring their students to the performance of “My Heart in a Suitcase,” the true story of a Jewish family who grapples with the decision to send their child, Anne Lehmann, on the Kindertransport to escape the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany during the 1930s. This play is used to supplement the study of World War II and The Diary of Anne Frank. The GBPAC has programmed 33 performances for the 2017-18 academic school year. They include: “Miss Nelson Is Missing,” “Freedom Riders,” “Curious George” and “Huck and Tom and the Mighty Mississippi.”

Start Date

19-4-2018 9:00 AM

End Date

19-4-2018 10:30 AM

Event Host

UNI Office of Undergraduate Studies

Department/Center/Organization

Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center

Award Category

Commitment to Service Award (Faculty/Staff Only)

Comments

Gallagher Bluedorn’s various educational programs broaden youth’s understanding and participation in the arts among communities throughout Iowa and serves the Center’s mission, to inspire. The Kaleidoscope Series creates a deeper understanding of classroom subjects, serving as a supplementary tool in teaching core curriculum. In many cases the performances create an entry point for discussion of challenging material.

The Kaleidoscope Series strives to provide youth multiple opportunities to experience a wide range of the performing arts, to serve underserved rural communities of Eastern Iowa, and to accommodate over 35,000 students each year. In March of 2017 we reached a significant milestone, 500,000 kids experiencing the arts through our program. Learn more at kaleidoscopeseries.com.

Electronic copy is not available through UNI ScholarWorks.

Additional Files

Kaleidoscope Attendance Map.pdf (7189 kB)
2000-2018 Kaleidoscope Season Attendance

Comments?

COinS
 
Apr 19th, 9:00 AM Apr 19th, 10:30 AM

Kaleidoscope Series For Youth

The GBPAC’s Kaleidoscope Series for Youth is an educational project whose mission is to transform the lives of youth through the arts. Each season, high quality performances staged by international theater troupes address complex issues such as race, poverty, mental health and other forms of difference. Teachers tell us these performances provide an entry point for discussing difficult issues in the classroom. This level of arts education, when accessible to all, has the power to change the minds and behaviors of individuals, thereby improving our communities. That’s why the GBPAC offers Kaleidoscope programming to schools for just $1 per student. “Buck-a-Kid” has since become a statewide model for many non-profit arts organizations and has been nationally lauded. The Kaleidoscope Series provides multiple opportunities to experience a wide range of performing arts, serves underserved rural communities of Eastern Iowa and accommodates on average 35,000 students each year. The Kaleidoscope Series just celebrated serving its 500,000th student since opening its doors 18 years ago. The GBPAC has hired many well-known, international theater troupes whose sole purpose is programming for youth. Study guides are provided by the companies, allowing teachers to create lessons and activities prior to and after the performances. Teachers, administrators and homeschool teachers see the value of the Kaleidoscope Series for Youth: “I believe this program provides students with a multitude of information to discuss in the classroom. It expands their minds, their thinking and their understanding of the world around them.” The Kaleidoscope Series has become an integrated part of the school curricula, often the high point or foundation for an entire subject area or project. For example, teachers often bring their students to the performance of “My Heart in a Suitcase,” the true story of a Jewish family who grapples with the decision to send their child, Anne Lehmann, on the Kindertransport to escape the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany during the 1930s. This play is used to supplement the study of World War II and The Diary of Anne Frank. The GBPAC has programmed 33 performances for the 2017-18 academic school year. They include: “Miss Nelson Is Missing,” “Freedom Riders,” “Curious George” and “Huck and Tom and the Mighty Mississippi.”