The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, based in Greenwich, CT, awarded a three-year grant to support two groundbreaking educational initiatives developed by the Katonah Museum of Art. ArteJuntos and SmART KIDS, developed in 2005 and 2011 respectively, target Latino bilingual populations with transformative programs that create informal environments to foster academic, social, and linguistic skills for children and their families.
"The Katonah Museum of Art is making a real difference in children's lives through programs like SmART KIDS and ArteJuntos that exemplify the power of the arts to enhance educational experiences for disadvantaged Latino youth and their families," said Alex Cohen.
"I am thrilled to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of Steven and Alexandra Cohen in enabling the KMA to continue its work with immigrant children and their parents over this three-year period. Sustainable programs that allow us to grow with our audiences over time are critical to our ongoing success as a vital artistic and educational resource," says KMA Executive Director Darsie Alexander.
ArteJuntos/ArtTogether focuses on low-income, educationally at-risk preschool children and their families. The program strengthens educational skills of parents with children, ages 3-5, by using artwork in the galleries as a springboard for learning, debate, and conversation between parent and child. Working with educators throughout Westchester County, the programs are aimed at school readiness and provide vital skills for children to be successful when they enter kindergarten and elementary school. Partnerships with
First Steps Program at the Park School in Ossining and the Family Center at Neighbor's Link in Mount Kisco strengthen the foundations of the KMA's outreach.
SmART KIDS engages a group of economically disadvantaged youth, ages 12-13, in the world of art. Created in close collaboration with Fox Lane Middle School, SmART KIDS encourages teenagers to articulate their interpretations of a variety of complex artworks, make connections to their personal realities, and open themselves to museums as accessible cultural outlets celebrating many different forms of creative expression. Along with public speaking, the participants develop interview skills and learn to articulate their thoughts through visual media. The culmination of the program brings the process full circle as students become tour guides, and family, school, and museum staff become the beneficiaries of a plan for lifelong learning.
The Katonah Museum of Art, committed to presenting exceptional art from all cultures and time periods, through
innovative exhibition and education programs, promotes the understanding and enjoyment of the visual arts for diverse
audiences. The founders' decision to be a non-collecting institution resulted in a dynamic and flexible exhibition program,
which remains one of the most distinctive features of the KMA. The KMA offers lectures, films, workshops, concerts and
other events for a general audience; and presents innovative and substantive programs for over 100 member schools. Our
Learning Center is the only interactive space in Westchester County where children can come on a daily basis to explore
and create art.
ABOUT THE STEVEN & ALEXANDRA COHEN FOUNDATION
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is committed to achieving lasting and meaningful change in our community
through four main areas of focus: education, children's health, veterans, and the arts. The Foundation places an emphasis
on improving the lives of children through education reform and healthcare initiatives, providing help to our returning
heroes with mental health and employment programs for veterans, and supporting the arts that inspire us all.