Urban Arts

Project Urban Arts is an ongoing project (started in 2003) that has filled the immediate needs of the music program at the High School of Environmental Studies (HSES), an underserved public school in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen. Our top priorities have been:

Bringing in experienced professionals to work with the students as teaching artists.

Professional New York City choreographers, actors, directors, casting agents, pianists, costumers and photographers have all come in to work with these talented students. Workshops, photo sessions, master classes, and rehearsals were all coordinated through Statement Arts. Thanks to these generous teaching artists, HSES has been able to put up five full scale musical productions, including A Chorus Line, Bye Bye Birdie, Little Shop of Horrors, Pippin, and most recently, The Wiz.

Taking Our Shows on the Road!

Our dedicated students rehearse all year to prepare for their performances and we wanted to provide them with the opportunity to perform for a broader audience. Statement Arts raised money, enabling several performing groups to compete in national music festivals, including an adjudication at the prestigious George Mason University in Washington, D.C.

Sponsoring HSES students for voice, acting and dance classes.

Through private donations, we have been able send over 100 students to summer classes, including a six-week voice clinic at Third Street Music School, private singing lessons, and two students received a four-week intensive dance workshop at Studio Maestro.

Community Outreach

During the winter of 2004, our music and theatre students were invited to accompany Broadway and radio singers on their annual caroling tour for the New York City Fire Department. In 2006 our kids were contributing artists at the IMPACT festival and this year we hope to take our 'A Single Drop of Water' message to other schools.

What We’ve Done

Project Urban Arts has accomplished the following:

• Sponsored transportation for students traveling to college interviews and auditions
• Funded school trips for music and theatre competitions and performances
• Accompanied students to theatrical shows, classic movies and concerts
• Organized free photo sessions for the students so they could have professional headshots for other auditions
• Donated costumes for the musical performances

Success Stories

Since Statement Arts has been working with the High School of Environmental Studies, many students have already met with tremendous success!

• Bill & Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient 2005
• Honor Roll & National Honors Society members
• A Sundance Film Festival participant
• Many students have gone onto higher learning institutions