Chihuly Garden and Glass Announces New Community Partnership with Arts Corps

SEATTLE, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chihuly Garden and Glass has expanded its community partnership program by beginning a new three-year partnership with Arts Corps. Since Chihuly Garden and Glass' opening in May 2012, the exhibition has collaborated with Chihuly Studio to further arts engagement for youth and adults within the Pacific Northwest by supporting Pratt Fine Arts Center, Pilchuck Glass School, ArtsFund and Seattle Public Schools. Arts Corps is a nationally recognized youth arts education organization that works to address the race and income-based opportunity gap in arts education.

"We're excited to partner with Arts Corps, an organization that not only emphasizes the importance of equitable access to the arts, but encourages young adults to use art as a tool for community engagement and social reform," said Chihuly Garden and Glass Executive Director Michelle Bufano. "Through financial support and mentorship, Chihuly Garden and Glass will work closely with Arts Corps to support its mission of unlocking the creative power of youth." 

Arts Corps reaches more than 2,500 King County students each year through public schools, low-income housing sites, community and residential treatment centers. Through a wide-range of art disciplines—including visual arts, spoken word, theatre and film—Arts Corps provides a host of programing for young adults. One of the programs Chihuly Garden and Glass will support is Youth Speaks Seattle, a program that cultivates leadership and activism through spoken word poetry.       

"We are honored to partner with Chihuly Garden and Glass over the next three years," said Arts Corps Executive Director James Miles. "The support that comes with this partnership will help Arts Corps deepen its connection with the young people participating in our programs, giving them greater access to an arts education, promoting creative expression and critical thinking."

Chihuly Garden and Glass is committed to supporting its local community partners to further their individual goals and reach. To date, the exhibition has donated more than a half a million dollars to its partners. Through Seattle Public Schools, Chihuly Garden and Glass has welcomed more than 7,500 middle students to participate in special programing where they've received free access to the exhibition, transportation and a full interactive curriculum. Additionally, the exhibition continues to donate funds to Pilchuck's Emerging-Artist-In-Residence scholarship fund, which supports the residency of artists seeking formal training at the school.

In addition to its community partnerships, Chihuly Garden and Glass' donation program provides tickets, books, gift cards, tours, sponsorships and in-kind support to hundreds of local non-profits that support furthering education and arts to youth, seniors and adults in need. The exhibition also continues to distribute more than 10,000 tickets annually to those who may not otherwise have access to the exhibition.

Chihuly Garden and Glass
Located at Seattle Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass brings together all the elements of Dale Chihuly's work, including drawings, signature glass series, large architectural installations and personal collections in a long-term exhibition.

Arts Corps
Arts Corps is a force for creativity and justice in a region where race is the greatest predictor of whether a young person has access to an arts education. We believe creating art can be a personal act of liberation, and when done collectively can transform schools, neighborhoods, and beyond. 

Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly is an artist whose vision is centered around color, shape, light and transparency.  Over his 50-year career, he has become known for his iconic glass sculptures but glass is just one of the media he employs to realize his vision – he also draws, paints and sculpts using other materials.  He is globally renowned for his ambitious site-specific architectural installations in public spaces, and in exhibitions presented in museums and gardens worldwide.

SOURCE Chihuly Garden and Glass

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