Focus is Our Children Honored as Outstanding Community Arts Project
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Mayor James M. Ruberto announced that Vanessa Guess-Slaughter’s dance recital, Focus is Our Children, has been honored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s (MCC) Gold Star Award for excellence in community arts and culture.Vanessa Guess-Slaughter’s Focus is Our Children is one of 7 programs throughout the state to earn a Gold Star designation. Funding from the Pittsfield Cultural Council helped support the initiative. The high-quality dance program for underserved girls ages 5-17, Focus is Our Children focuses on all aspects of students' well-being, including self esteem, nutrition, exercise and academic performance. Over the years, the students have performed, at the mall, local parades and celebrations, and senior centers. The program culminates in a public recital at the end of the year.
“Vanessa’s hard-work and dedication over the years has touched many children’s lives,” said Mayor Ruberto. “The Pittsfield Cultural Council’s support for Vanessa and other strong community leaders has given many people the opportunity to expand their minds and share their talents with others.”
The Gold Star Program annually recognizes model community arts, humanities, and science projects funded by the 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) across the state. These projects celebrate diversity, foster collaboration, showcase artistic excellence and provide learning experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds.
The Gold Star Award ceremony will be on June 28, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 55 Fenn Street, Pittsfield. The ceremony will precede the dance recital, Focus is Our Children. Tickets for adults are $10, children and seniors $5.
Gold Star awards are nominated by LCC’s and are evaluated by the MCC based on a variety of criteria including: artistic quality, success in reaching out to underserved constituents, educational value, and ability to engage with the community. The LCC Program is the largest volunteer-run, grassroots arts funding program in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences annually.
About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The MCC promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The MCC is committed to building a central place for the arts, sciences and humanities in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and individual artists.
