Celebrities Share their Stories About Learning Through the Arts
Click here for a printable version of the press release
CELEBRITIES SHARE THEIR STORIES ABOUT LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - New York, NY, (October 15, 2007)- The Center for Arts Education (CAE), the leading voice in restoring, stimulating and sustaining arts education in New York City public schools, announces the launch of its “Celebrity Yearbook.” Published for the first time online, CAE’s “Celebrity Yearbook” is a compilation of familiar faces who share their stories about learning through the arts and how it has affected their careers and their lives today.
Exposure to the arts has influenced today’s leaders in a number of fields - from politics to entertainment to finance. CAE’s “Celebrity Yearbook” has been created as a means to raise awareness about the important impact of arts education in children and the need for arts education as part of a quality, well rounded education. As proven by CAE’s inaugural class of familiar names including; Sutton Foster, Ed Koch, Ken Burns and Jeff McCarthy, experiences in arts learning can have a positive and lifelong influence lasting well beyond a child’s school days.
- Excerpts from CAE’s “Celebrity Yearbook:”
“Without dance, theater and art classes at school, I know I wouldn’t be as well versed and familiar with myself as I am. As a child, theater taught me how to let go of my inhibitions and the fear of expressing my feelings.” - Sutton Foster, Broadway Actress
“I lived in the Bronx until I was 7 years old and rarely left; a trip to Manhattan was like a trip to a foreign land. I remember going to the theater at City Center - seats in the balcony were only 55 cents then. Today’s parents can insist on cultural programs for their children, and I prefer it that way.” - Ed Koch, Former Mayor of NYC
“My earliest memory is of seeing that incredibly magic alchemy that takes place in a darkroom. When a picture, comes out of nowhere from that spooky red light - imagine what a 3-year old felt seeing that.” - Ken Burns, Filmmaker
“My first mentor was a high school drama teacher in central California named Mr. Wheetley. I reminisce on past productions with Mr. Wheetley and how those early experiences in the theater were the highpoint of my youth.” - Jeff McCarthy, Broadway Actor
For this ongoing project, CAE will continue to seek out additional personalities to share their creative experiences and join the charge to bring arts education to every child’s life. To view photos and full testimonials from CAE’s “Celebrity Yearbook,” visit http://www.cae-nyc.org/pages/celebrity-yearbook/
The Center for Arts Education is leading the charge to restore quality arts education for New York City’s more than one million public school students and is committed to establishing New York City as the arts education capital of the world by making the arts a core component of every public school child’s education. CAE uses public engagement and strategic alliances with the city’s elected officials, arts and cultural organizations, business and creative industries, education leaders, parent groups, funders and other art education supporters to enrich the lives of children, their families, and neighborhoods and help improve the quality of New York City public school education.
###
