THE WRITTEN WORD
In collaboration between WhyArts? and the Omaha Creative Institute
Individuals of all abilities and ages interpret the theme “Harvest” through the Arts

“The Written Word” uses the written word and the expression of poetry writing as a starting point for artists and non-artists to explore the theme “Harvest”…exploring human feelings, memories, creative thoughts and personal ideas on the theme. The project has included the writing of poetry, visual arts, song writing and creative movement to interpret the theme.

Organizations and artists participating include:

• Poet Portia Love – creating poetry with residents at Quality Living Inc
• Musician Jill Anderson – writing songs at the North Omaha Girls Inc
• Photographer Matt Bross – directing photography at Quality Living Inc
• Visual artist Stephanie Anderson – creating art at the Heartland Family Service Senior Center
• Visual artist Paula Wallace – creating art at the Franciscan Adult Day Center
• Dancer Courtney Stein – creating movement at the South Omaha Girls Inc
•  Poet Sarah McKinstry Brown and Visual artist Madalyn Bruning – creating art at sessions at Shadow Lake Town Center

With support from the Nebraska Humanities Council

LOUD MOUTHS: NEW PLAYS BY THE STUDENTS OF THE ART OF IMAGINATION
Partnering with the Ollie Webb Center

This summer, the Art of Imagination, in partnership with WhyArts? and the Great Plains Theatre Conference, will present a play writing festival for people with developmental disabilities. Artistic Director Jim Hoggatt will mentor 3-5 students during the winter and spring of 2012, helping each through the writing process of a short play. In April, WhyArts? theatre artists Carole Waterman and Amy Kunz will involve Omaha actors with and without disabilities to perform these works.

RHYTHM OF LIFE DANCE PROGRAM
The Rhythm of LIfe Dance Program was created by Laura Carpenter, a 4th year doctorate of occupational therapy student
at Creighton University.Her objective was to develop a community-based dance program for the elderly that aims to improve
quality of life as key determinants of health and to appraise the use of dance as a therapeutic activity and procedure, or evaluative tool, by occupational therapists with the elderly. The dance program is now complete and incorporated into a 12 workshop program which utilizes favorite music from a senior’s past, creative group exercises, dance steps and movement into a program based on physical therapy principles. Through WhyArts? professional dancers Robin Welch and Deborah Carr will offer the program to senior centers, community groups, senior residences, churches and other interested parties.

Ongoing Projects

*OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM:
WhyArts? is providing the arts programming for the Omaha Children’s Museum which includes theatre, storytelling, music, movement and the visual arts. Look for the WhyArts? signs in the Museum’s Creative Arts Area.

*MIDDLE SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER INITIATIVE:
Artists provide an array of visual arts activities twice a week at the following Middle Schools: Morton, McMillan, Norris, and Marrs. Additionally, three artists are providing arts at Howard Kennedy Elementary School through their afterschool program.

*EDUCARE OF OMAHA:
Throughout the fall residency with Carole A. Waterman, the pre-schoolers have been making music through the Orff-Schulwerk Method.  This approach combines singing, instrument playing, movement, and creative drama in a “child-centered” approach to teaching music.  Through the winter and spring residency, the children will be re-creating the world of the dinosaurs through creative drama and playing dino rhythms on percussion instruments while accompanying dino songs with simple melody patterns. The final session in April will be “Dino Daze”, a sharing for family and friends.

QUALITY LIVING INC:
WhyArts? has been providing arts opportunities to QLI for several years, working with both the Lied Learning Center and Durham Center.  Arts activities have included poetry slams,  play writing,  visual arts workshops,  photography and video sessions ,  dance and music  performances and an art exhibit at the Hot Shops.  We will continue to work to provide unique and meaningful experiences to the residents.

SENIOR ARTS WORKSHOPS:
WhyArts? provides extensive programming to senior centers, adult day care centers and senior
residencies.  Arts workshops can include visual arts, theatre , music, and will now also include a new senior dance program.
Workshops will begin in 2012 at Corrigan Senior Center,  Franciscan Adult Day Center,  Heartland Family Service
Senior Center,  Intercultrual Senor Center  and House of Hope.

AMBASSADOR SKILLED NURSING:
Twice each month WhyArts? artists visit the bedsides of nursing patients through their “artist visits”.

COMPLETELY KIDS:
WhyArts? provides arts activities to family nights, visual arts opportunities for the after-school program , arts within shelters and other opportunities throughout the school year.

OMAHA SCHOOLS FOUNDATION:
WhyArts provides a variety of workshops to Jefferson and Prairie Wind Elementary Schools through their “Safe Kids” program when school is not in session.

…………and much more!

Check out our calendar on our website to see specific dates , times and artists.

FALL 2010-2011 WHYARTS? PROGRAMMING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET JOINS WHYARTS?
Continuing the tradition begun in 1996 with a student production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Rose, Robin Welch Dance Arts is forming Heartland Youth Ballet, a new company for young dancers. Its purpose is to provide highly-motivated young classical dancers with the technical training, artistic development, and practical experience needed to pursue professional performing careers.

WhyArts? looks forward to partnering with the Heartland Youth Ballet to bring arts to the organizations with whom we work!!!