NEW YORK, Aug. 18 /CSRwire-PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - MetLife Foundation and the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts announced the winners of the MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Program. The program grants, totaling $215,000, were awarded to 14 community arts organizations that will work with large public schools to provide high-quality arts instruction during the 2009-2010 school year. This national initiative aims to improve teaching and learning in the arts by promoting best practices for creating sustainable partnerships. Thanks to this year's program, more than 11,500 public school students in eight cities will receive year-long arts instruction.

The winning community arts education organizations are:

• Arts Council for Long Beach, Long Beach, Calif. (Public Art)
  
• Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Music)
  
• Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, Bronx, N.Y. (Printmaking, Digital Arts and Photography)
  
• City Lore, Queens, N.Y. (Dance, Literary Arts, Theater, and Visual Arts)
  
• The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pa. (Ceramic Arts)
  
• COCA: Center for Creative Arts, St. Louis, Mo. (Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts)
  
• Community Music Center of Boston, Boston, Mass. (Music)
  
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Chicago, Ill. (Dance)
  
• Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts)
  
• Living Arts, Detroit, Mich. (Media Arts, Mime, Music, and Performance Poetry)
  
• Luna Kids Dance, Oakland, Calif. (Dance)
  
• Progressive Arts Alliance, Cleveland, Ohio (Literary Arts, Media Arts, Music, Printmaking, Theater)
  
• Young Audiences New York, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Dance, Digital Photography, Media Arts, Music, and Spoken Word Poetry)
  
• Zephyr Dance, Chicago, Ill. (Dance)

Click here for full descriptions of each partnership.

National Guild Executive Director Jonathan Herman said: "During the past two decades, the National Guild has identified best practices for arts education partnerships that have powerful, long-term effects on students, faculty, institutions, and communities. The MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Program supports community arts education organizations that strengthen the capacity of public schools to provide access to high-quality arts education."

"MetLife Foundation is committed to making quality arts education accessible for children across the country," stated Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "We believe that the arts play a vital role in promoting learning, understanding of the world and its diverse cultures, and enriching communities. MetLife Foundation is pleased to support these outstanding programs."

In addition to the individual grants, the MetLife Partners in Arts Education Program will sponsor the Partners in Excellence: Arts Education Partnerships Institute (November 14, 2009) at the Guild's annual Conference for Community Arts Education in Minneapolis, Minn. The goal of the Institute is to provide community arts education organizations the tools, training, and know-how to develop successful arts education partnerships.

The National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts advances lifelong learning in the arts so that all people may participate according to their interests and abilities. The Guild's 400+ member organizations include neighborhood music schools, dance studios, arts centers and community arts education divisions of museums, universities, and theater companies. They are located in urban, suburban and rural communities in 45 states. In concert with this dynamic network, the Guild researches and promotes best practices, provides opportunities for professional development and dialogue, advocates for broad access, and makes grants to the field. Collectively, the Guild's 400 + member institutions offer direct instruction to one million students each year. In addition to providing classes and lessons within their own facilities, most members also collaborate with public schools, after-school programs, hospitals, senior centers, and other agencies to increase communities' access to arts education. www.nationalguild.org

MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to continue the company's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation supports programs that improve education, promote health, encourage parental involvement and family engagement, help revitalize neighborhoods and stress accessibility and inclusion. Recognizing the vital role the arts play in building communities and educating young people, the Foundation contributes to arts and cultural organizations across the United States, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broad audiences through inclusive programming, and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its web site at www.metlife.org.

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. MetLife and MetLife Foundation have invested more than $15 million for Alzheimer's research and public information programs, including $10 million through the Awards for Medical Research program. Working with the Alzheimer's Association, the Foundation has supported caregiving videos, resources for the Hispanic community and the Safe Return identification program, which addresses the problem of senior wandering. The Foundation has expanded its focus on aging issues, including helping people remain physically and mentally fit and remaining engaged in the community. It also supports programs addressing issues of caregiving, intergenerational activities and volunteer opportunities. Grants support health, education, and civic and cultural programs. More information about MetLife Foundation is available at www.metlife.org.

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