The Barra Foundation awards $150,000 to the Arts and Quality of Life Research Center

 

The AQLRC has received a $150,000 grant to develop and implement a competency-based training program for artists to prepare them to work with members of the community who are vulnerable, disenfranchised and/or underserved because of physical, mental, emotional, social, and economic challenges.  This initiative is part of Arts at Your Side (AAYS), the community outreach component of the Research Center.

A precedent has been established in Philadelphia and elsewhere for artists to provide entertainment to non-traditional audiences. The training program funded by the Barra Foundation equips professional and student artists with the necessary knowledge and skills to most effectively address the needs of these audiences, and provides this training to 50 Philadelphia professional or student artists at no cost. This training includes instruction as well as on-site supervision by qualified persons.  No such broad-based standardized training is available for artists today.  The program also funds music and visual arts programs at select hospitals in Philadelphia.

The program will again be offered, free of charge, in Fall 2009. Registration for the Fall 2009 program has closed.