September 12, 2014 | SharkAdmin Northwest Vista College recently received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to implement the Student Training in the Arts for Growth in Education and Self-Confidence (STAGES) camp program. Two camps, offered over three weeks each during the summers of 2015, will engage future area musicians and dancers, ages 8-17, by providing opportunities for them to learn and perform music and dance in a college environment. Securing the funds for this program would not have been possible without the hard work and support of Timothy Jones, Vinnie Bradford, Lynne Dean, and Javier Morales (and collaborative partner, the Network for Young Artists (NYA). According to NYA's website, its objectives are to provide resources for youth, ages 4 to 20 years old, to develop their talents in the performing arts and to provide opportunities for youth to showcase their talents. NYA also promotes abstinence from drugs and alcohol. “This grant represents the culmination of more than a year of collaborative planning with the Network for Young Artists,” said Lynne Dean, NVC Director of Institutional Advancement. “We appreciate so much the help of NVC Business Chair Rosantina Aranda for bringing NVC and NYA together. These summer workshops for young performers of San Antonio will benefit from the talents of instructors and faculty from both organizations during the summer sessions. We are grateful for the help of NYA Founder Terry “Coach” Lowery and look forward to working with NYA Executive Director Jacob Valenzuela and the NYA team.” In the interest of transparency, Lynne said, this was not a competitive grant. NVC was invited by the NEA to submit a proposal for community engagement in the arts. The NEA approved the STAGES program and requested full details and a budget.
