HPS Earns Nearly $68,000 in Music and Arts Donations and Grants
Hartford Public Schools is excited to announce recent recognition of its music and arts programming. The District is the recipient of three grants and donations, described below, totaling nearly $68,000.
National Endowment for the Arts – $10,000 | Hartford Public Schools received a Challenge America grant for its Bringing hARTford Love to Hartford Schools Project. The Initiative will bring much-needed arts instruction to a group of historically underserved students. During the 2023-2024 school year, a local teaching artist will meet with students to create a visual or performing arts project that results in a culminating production or exhibition
The Mockingbird Foundation – $1,000 | The Mockingbird Foundation awarded Weaver High School a $1,000 grant for its music education program. The Foundation is a non-profit created by fans of the band Phish. The members fundraise to increase access to music education. When Phish tours, the Foundation awards an unsolicited grant to a school in cities that are stops on the tour. Phish performed at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford last summer, and the Foundation selected Weaver High School as the recipient.
The Choral Club of Hartford – $56,983 | The Choral Club of Hartford made a generous donation to Hartford Public Schools on behalf of the Baldwin Fund. The donation is pending Board of Education approval, per Board of Education policies. Once approved, the HPS Office of Arts and Wellness will determine how to best use the funds to provide more access to arts education in the schools.
Additionally, Hartford Public Schools was named as one of 2022 Best Communities for Music Education in the nation, by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). The award recognizes and celebrates school districts that display a commitment to offering music education to all students.
“We are grateful to receive support for arts programming because we know the powerful impact the arts provide when it comes to increasing student and family engagement in school,” said Tracy Avicolli, Director of Arts and Wellness at Hartford Public Schools. “The infusion of various levels of funding and recognition through public and private sectors reinforces the importance of the arts in urban education not only in our district, but throughout the broader community.”
Hartford Public Schools is pleased to provide meaningful arts experiences that promote student engagement, self-expression, and creativity. To learn more about the programs offered, including dance, music, theater, and visual arts, visit the Arts and Wellness page on the Hartford Public Schools website.