2008 News and Information
Learn About the Saving Grace of Glass Art
14 March 2008The City of Richmond invites the public to the third lecture in The 2008 Lulu Series: Art in The City. Hear four guests speakers from the Hilltop Artists in Residence in Tacoma, Washington, USA (HART) speak about their glass art program and its successes working with disenfranchised and disadvantaged youth.
This free lecture takes place:
In 1994, glass pioneer and artist, Dale Chihuly, established Hilltop Artists in Residence in his home town, Tacoma. Its mission is to “use glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures”. HART has received state and national recognition for its innovative educational programming with at-risk youth from grades six to 12. It achieves its mission by providing youth with hot glass instruction, related arts training, positive role models and an alternative environment for the discovery of personal excellence.
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Time: 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. Location: Richmond City Hall Council Chambers, 6911 No. 3 Rd. Admission: FREE
Glass work calls to a particular subset of youth who do not seem to be touched by other positive programs; youth who are well known for their difficulties in school and on the streets. The target population has always been those young people who face multiple barriers to success, including poverty, drugs, gang pressures, low parental involvement and poor social skills. School counselors, social workers, administrators, teachers and juvenile court employees constantly refer students to HART.
The U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts reported six years ago that arts programs can increase academic achievement, help decrease youth involvement in delinquent behaviour and improve youth attitudes about themselves and the future.
HART has created a place in Tacoma where people want to be; where parents even from outside the area want their children to be involved. The amazing nature of glass art and the excitement around involving marginalized youth in challenge and creation has resulted in many success stories. HART acts as a model program nationally and internationally.
The evening will begin with a performance by Delhi 2 Dublin – a wildly, contemporary, high energy blend of Celtic and Punjabi music.
This event is sponsored by 2nd Globe (Indianapolis & Vancouver).
Space is limited. Please RSVP at 604-247-8320 or suzanne.greening@richmond.ca.
The Lulu Series: Learn about the Saving Grace of Glass Art