Arts and Education Council - St. Louis

Saint Louis Dance Theatre (STLDT) exists to invigorate life through dance. Through their Senior Embrace program, they do just that.

Kicked off in 2012, this outreach program aims to bring high-quality, entertaining dance performances to those who may not be able to travel to a theater to experience this level of talent. In its conception, the program included performances for retirement homes, later adding hands-on movement workshops for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, and performances to help raise awareness for organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and the Maturity and its Muse Festival. Read more of STLDT's incredible impact 👉 https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

Dedicated to sharing the joy and freedom of the arts, Pointe of Surrender Dance Studio empowers dancers through the universal language of creative arts and dance. Children have the opportunity to take ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, step, tumbling, and musical theater classes, among others. Understanding the power of the arts to change lives, Pointe of Surrender is committed to increasing access for more young artists through The Essence of Dance Scholarship Fund. This scholarship allows students of all backgrounds to experience the transformative power of dance. “Let’s heal. Let’s dance!” Erica Hill, Director. Read more of their empowering story 👉 https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

Celebrating 10 years of impact this month, Saint Louis Story Stitchers collects stories and retells them through art, writing and performance of high quality original works of art to the public. Story Stitchers is a youth-driven organization, taking its focus from the interests and needs of young people, many of which center around public health, safety and holistic wellness. Utilizing a collaborative studio model, they join creative youth development and intergenerational experiential learning as an artists collective. Read more about ways Story Stitchers is continuing the next decade of the organization’s mission to promote understanding, civic pride, relationship and literacy with youth at the center 👉 https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

"Art therapy has been incredibly beneficial for me in expressing myself and my creativity. Through art, I have found a powerful outlet for channeling my emotions and processing my past experiences. Unlike traditional therapy, art therapy has truly empowered me to express myself and confront my past," shared a participant of the Transitional Living Program, one of several offered by The Core Collective at Saint Vincent (The CC).

The CC has served youth in crisis for 174 years. Each year, they help 750+ at-risk young people who have experienced trauma and adverse experiences and need intensive support to heal. The CC provides housing and wraparound services for youth ages 16-22 via the Transitional Living Program (TLP), community-based mental health support to youth ages 6-19, street outreach to unhoused or youth at-risk of housing instability, and hosts community youth at The Hub, a recreation and resource center.

Learn more about their long-standing impact 👉 https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

One evening this spring, teens gathered at an area high school for a fun evening of poetry and music, showcasing the tremendous student talent and community love for which Ferguson Youth Initiative - FYI is known. This annual SLAM (or spoken word) event is one of many offerings by FYI, dedicated to empowering teens from Ferguson and surrounding communities to become productive, positive and contributing members of the community. FYI offers other artistic opportunities, along with community service, college and job readiness programs, after-school activities, to name a few. Read more of their story 👉 https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

Only a few spots remain for Paul Chan's "Breathers" CAM exhibition guided tour this Thursday, August 8 from 2-3:30!

Join The Art Collaborative for a tour with Associate Curator Misa Jefferies who will describe the artists’ intentions, inspiration, and process.

For Paul Chan, art is a full-bodied experience. He is driven to make multi-dimensional work that moves and engages the viewer’s senses to illustrate a particular movement, moment, or feeling. Breathers consist of vibrant, billowing fabric “bodies” powered by industrial fans in which Chan uses the free-form figures to investigate personal, societal, and political issues.

Learn more and reserve your free ticket here:

Take a ‘Breather’ at the Contemporary Art Museum Take a ‘Breather’ at the Contemporary Art Museum with Paul Chan’s Exhibition: Breathers

Realizing the music community she was rooted in only included people of some abilities and neurotypes, Jessica Ingram was motivated to found Different Dynamics. Across the past 7 years, she has recruited a dedicated team to create inclusive spaces for music-making and concert attendance that embrace neurodiversity, making music accessible to individuals with different thinking, communication, and perception styles. Last fall, Different Dynamics opened their first music studio and launched The Music Exploratorium, “a safe space where my daughter can express herself through music and instruments, and she’s supported and celebrated for her uniqueness,” shared a participant’s parent.

On average, Different Dynamics serves more than 2,000 people each year through community music-making, professional development for music educators, and sensory concert production, all aimed at enhancing the mental health and quality of life of people with disabilities through the transformative power of music. Read more of their Impact Story 👉https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

Despite periodic pushback for standing up for Black lives, the Freedom Arts & Education Center presses on in their mission to feed, teach and heal using the arts as a catalyst for individual and community growth. Started in 2012, Freedom Arts advocates for youth and provides arts and academic enrichment, and they are committed to supporting young people using their voices and artistry to impact the broader community. Check out the incredible, transformative work they are doing 👉 https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

Also amplifying their 13th annual this Saturday August 3rd at 4136 N. Grand Blvd. This is a 🎉block party + back to school bash where everything is free and family-friendly: Music, food, dancing, games, youth performances, art activities, plus free school supplies, school uniforms, and haircuts for the kids! Come and/or please share this end of summer celebration and opportunity to get community ready for another school year.

At Gateway Music Outreach (GMO), “we strongly believe that music can be a powerful tool for personal and academic growth, and we are dedicated to making it accessible to underserved communities," James McKay, GMO’s Co-Founder and Music Director. GMO is committed to providing accessible instrumental music programming to underserved youth through music lessons, master classes, Summer String Institute, youth orchestra, other performance and competition opportunities, as well as school and community-based programs. To date, more than 300 students have had the opportunity to experience all that GMO has to offer.

Read more about the incredible impact GMO is making with youth across St. Louis, including providing young people the opportunity to compete in a recent music festival — with great success 👉https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

Driven to motivate social change through circus arts, Circus Harmony is the only social circus organization in St. Louis. Welcoming children of all ages from across the city, Circus Harmony invites students to learn circus skills while building character and community bridges through the process. With programs like Peace Through Pyramids and Circus Teaches the Art of Life, students are provided tools for artistic expression, teamwork, and life skills like financial literacy and communication across differences.
Circus Harmony has supported thousands of young people in their journey through the years. Read their full Impact Story 👉 https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

🎥This Friday, July 26 at 7:30 PM at Hi-Pointe Theatre, check out their film: Architecture and Acrobats: Fairgrounds and O’Fallon Parks, presented as part of the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase. Circus Harmony performers will also be there providing live entertainment!

We kickoff our Impact Stories series with Artists First St. Louis, who invite us to imagine a creative environment where each person’s unique contributions are nurtured and celebrated, and collective effort is made visible through inclusive programs, collaborative projects, and art exhibitions, enabling all St. Louisans access to the transformative power of the arts. This is the beautiful work happening at Artists First, and we are thrilled to amplify their story: ✨https://www.keeparthappening.org/impact/impact-stories

Stay tuned as we highlight the incredible work of many of our grantees in the coming weeks!