Passport To Understanding School Outreach

A Proactive Approach to Multicultural Education

 

 

Passport to Understanding is a participatory program of hands-on cultural museum presentations, on-going classes, workshops, lecture-demonstrations, performances and concerts designed to promote cross-cultural understanding and respect. Offered both on-site at the GLOBAL EDUCATION CENTER and in area schools, the Center staff partners with its teaching and performing artists from diverse cultures to use the arts as a pathway to understanding the various cultural, ethnic and religious groups residing in our community. The overall goal of Passport to Understanding is to highlight the commonalties of all people while creating experiences in the arts that aid in dispelling myths, dismantling stereotypes and unlearning biases. Offerings for schools include:

  • Interactive cultural museum presentations
  • Concert series for school groups
  • Performances at area schools
  • School international festivals
  • Drum and dance residencies in area schools
  • Professional development opportunities for teachers
  • Cultural resources for teachers
 
     

Interactive Cultural Museum Presentations

Schools may choose from the following cultures:

  • Native American Pow Wow (mini-sampler of arts of diverse nations)
  • Native People of Alaska (Inuit, Haida, Tlinglit, Tsimshian)
  • Native People of the Northeast (Anishinabe, Iroquois)
  • Native People of the Plains (Lakota)
  • Native People of the Southeast (Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole)
  • Native People of the Southwest (Hopi, Zuni, Navajo)
  • Native People - Early Encounters (Taino, Wampanoag)
  • Native People of Hawaii
  • Coming to America (early Europeans)
  • Festivals of Light (Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Advent, Las Posadas, Divali, Ramadan)
  • The People of Africa
  • The People of Australia
  • The People of China
  • The People of India
  • The People of Japan
  • The People of Korea
  • The People of Mexico & Central America
  • The People of North Africa & the Middle East
  • The People of Russia
  • The People of South America

Drum and Dance Residencies

Drummers and/or dancers are available for most of these cultures for on-going classes, one-time workshops, and week-long residencies. Consult our directory of artists.

   
 

 

Concerts for Schools Groups

Schedule for 2009 - 2010

December 4, 2009 - Festivals of Light - 10:00 am at Cohn Adult Learning Center Join local performers as they share the diverse traditions of Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Advent Las Posadas, Divali and Ramadan.

April 23, 2010 - Between Earth and Sky - 10:00 am - Location TBA
Join beloved Native American poet Joy Harjo as she reads her writings and shares her experience as a published author who reflects her heritage through her work.

April 23, 2010 - Kenichi Ebina New Moves
1:00 pm at Cohn Adult Learning Center

Kenichi Ebina and his dance company stretch the possibilities of movement through a blend of mime, hip hop and Japanese culture.

All school concert fees are $4/student ($3/student - member schools)

Assembly Performances

Performing artists from a wide range of cultures are available for in-school performances. Most performances range from forty-five minutes to one hour and have an interactive component. Consult our directory of artists. Most popular assemblies are:

Rhythm Rap - Drumming from around the World

Rhythms of the Islands - Music and dance from Polynesia and The Caribbean Islands

Rhythms of Life - International Smorgasboard of Music and Dance

The Spirit of Native America - An intimate view of music, dance and art with Gary Cady

The Bosch Institute - A creative collaboration between poet Thandiwe Shiphrah and musician Daniel Arite in which they create innovative audio collages of music and spoken word

Jataka Tales and More - A dance journey through morality tales from the Buddhist tradition that apply to all cultures featuring Monica Cooley.

Assembly fees vary depending on number of artists and number of performances.

Special guest artists are available for school programs on a limited basis while in residence at Global Education Center.

 
           
 

Fees for Passport to Understanding

  • Concerts: $4/student; $3/student (member schools)
  • Museum Presentations: $3/student; $2/student (member schools) ($100 daily minimum) Additional $1 minimum per student for accompanying artist
  • School Performances: $350 - $1,500 (depending on group)
  • International Festivals: $1,500 - $3,500 (depending on number of artists involved)
  • Drum or Dance Residencies: $1,500-$3,000/week

   
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