All across the state poets musicians, painters and actors alike are getting together for a new program designed by the Arizona Commission on the Arts.  It’s called stART.

“stART is Sharing Artists Resources Tour, and it got started because we have a juried roster of teaching artists, and we wanted to showcase them in the best way possible,” said Mandy Buscas, arts learning director.

At workshops in Tucson, stART is informed attendees about subjects, such as teaching arts to children with disabilities, and infusing creative writing in the curricula.

“We actually have pulled in a broad range of people from Tucson.  Tucson is a really great arts community that really comes together and works together,” said Alex Nelson, arts learning coordinator.

Tucson storyteller and stART participant, Glenda Bonin, says the program is a great way to learn new strategies that may lead to receiving more funding and volunteer assistance for the arts.

Arizona Commission on the arts has helped raise millions of dollars for arts in Arizona for over 43 years.

“The arts are a really important part of a well-rounded curriculum in the schools.  They can serve multiple purposes, and really reach out to every child in a unique way.  Especially now, in, as everyone says, these hard economic times. I think that the arts really shine a light on how important collaboration is and the unique way the arts can support different types of partnerships to strengthen communities and school, ” said Nelson.

Although this is stART’s first year, officials hope that the program will grow and continue throughout the years.

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!