A Model of Public-Private Partnership: The Friends of Fillmore Arts Center
Fillmore Arts Center is an unusual model of public-private partnership. The D.C. public school system provides Fillmore with its space, building maintenance, and salaries for core faculty and staff. Part of the D.C. public schools’, Fillmore reaches over 1000 children during the school week.
Over a decade ago, a group of parents, teachers, and other community members decided to seek funds to enrich the school day program further. They also wanted to expand Fillmore’s offerings to the hours immediately after school when studies show that children at risk are most likely to experiment with delinquent behaviors.
In 1991, the group established itself as the on-profit 501(c)(3) Friends of Fillmore Arts Center to secure funding from foundations, corporations, and the community. Friends of Fillmore makes possible all after school andsummer activities:
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Fillmore Arts Workshop,
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academic skills enrichment program,
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instrumental and vocal music ensembles,
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Summer Arts and Summer Jazz Camps.
Friends of Fillmore also provides funds for classroom equipment and supplies, office supplies, faculty development activities, and scholarships so that children of all income levels can take advantage of Fillmore’s after school and summer programs. Last year, the Friends awarded $10,000 in scholarships.
More than 1,800 children from all over the city will have the opportunity this year to participate in Fillmore’s school day, after school and summer programs.
Friends of Fillmore: After School & Summer Programs
Fillmore Arts Workshop has been self-supporting since its founding in1980.
An after-school enrichment program, it provides students with thematic, multidisciplinary arts education featuring writing, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, collage-making, and ceramics. Students take advantage of the variety of art museums, galleries, and arts events in the city, learning to appreciatethe many ways that talents can flower, which stimulates and encourages them in their own work. Of the 250 students enrolled this year, 30 received scholarships.
Fillmore students have the opportunity to participate in music ensembles which put on concerts in the winter and spring. The materials are introduced in class and after school practices begin later in the semester to bring the students together.
Ensembles include: Wind Ensemble, String Ensemble and Singers.
In addition, Fillmore has an award-winning Jazz Band comprised of Fillmore students, alums and other talented students from the metropolitan area. The Band has performed at several venues around town and at the East Coast Jazz Festival. Admission to this group is by permission of the instructor.
Fillmore Summer Camp....
teaches children K-8 skills in problem solving, teamwork, analysis and critique through classes in African dance, printmaking, photography, art history, character animation, ceramics, and musical theater. Of the 300s tudents from all over the city who attended the Summer Arts Camp last year, 40 received scholarships. Fillmore Summer Jazz Camp, sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, offer talented DC youth ages 9 to 14 six weeks of intensive jazz-based training and performance opportunities. In addition to master classes, the students learn jazz history, ensemble work, music theory and improvisation. Both camps offer, to a number of the community’s children who are at risk, the opportunity for constructive, fun, and confidence-building activities.
Karen Daniels with Wynton Marseilles and friends
Christine Kharazian conducts chorus at UDC spring concert
Denna Purdie conducts strings at UDC spring concert
Michael Bowie Jazz Trio at the Starland benefit
Hyde kindergarten dance class performance