Bellas Artes is a year-round program co-sponsored by the Carpinteria Valley Arts Council in cooperation with People’s Self Help Housing.
The program offers in-depth cultural arts education to underserved residents of two housing projects managed by PSHH in Carpinteria, California.
The goal is to promote self-esteem and maintain cultural heritage.
In our society economic wealth is often the primary standard used to measure achievement, success and/or self worth. The residents participating in this program are economically very poor.
Culture can embody a type of “wealth” independent of economics. Knowledge of and participation in cultural arts can enrich individual lives and help unite families over generations. The bellas artes program offers culture, the arts and education as an alternative way to define happiness and experience “wealth.”
The success of the bellas artes over the years is evident in many ways. Entries in the 2010 Carpinteria Women’s Club Art Contest resulted in five prize winners for bellas artes submissions. Student work entered in Carpinteria Valley Arts Council juried shows has been accepted and sold. The Arts Council has recently designated a small portion of their gallery for display and sale of bellas artes work exclusively. Among both residents and volunteers, a respect for culture, community and education continues to grow. They joyfully share their knowledge of traditional arts, crafts, music, dance and culinary skills, including recipes.
Parents express happiness that bellas artes affirms and validates the cultural richness and diversity of their community.
PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE!
Please visit the Bellas Artes website: www.carpbellasartes.com
Goals for 2011:
1. Continue the general program
As in the past, all ages will be welcome so as to affirm the strong indigenous and Latin traditions of family and community. Grandparents, parents, siblings, the young and the old will continue to have the opportunity enjoy cultural performances, cultural studies, learning, and the process of creating, side by side and/or together.
The program includes instruction in painting, collage, clay, printmaking, mural painting, sculpture, dance, etc. It will continue to include: after-school, holiday and springbreak workshops; week-long summer workshops; Viva “hosting” events in cooperation with UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Viva el Arte program: participation in local art contests and exhibitions; and excursions to culturally relevant educational exhibitions, performances and opportunities.
2. Continue the art instructor intern mentoring/employment program
The art instructor employment opportunity enhances the program and offers meaningful part time employment and resume building experience for program graduates who are young college students or parents.
The goal of this program is to train bellas artes program graduates as art educators and to ensure they have the knowledge and experience to take over the program with minimal to zero assistance in 2012/3.
3. Establish a new special teen culture of higher education program
This program will highlight higher education as a major cultural component of our United States and focus on connecting teens from Chapel Court and Dahlia Court to the opportunities for higher education in our area.
It will include a series of educational events and trips designed to help teens visualize their futures, research institutions and evaluate options.
