The ACT Program

From creating artworks, to receiving and performing dance, to writing and recording original songs, the students who are participating in ArtsMemphis' education outreach program, Arts for Children and Teachers (ACT)  have benefited from incredibly diverse creative experiences this school year.

Click here to read the press release on the 2009 Summer ACT program. The 2009 arts participants were Ballet Memphis, the Brooks Museum of Art, the National Ornamental Metal Museum, the New Ballet Ensemble, Opera Memphis, and Playhouse on the Square.

ACT offers all Memphis City public schools the opportunity to receive hands-on art experiences delivered by 10 diverse arts organizations.  The participating arts groups are as follows: Ballet Memphis, The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Beale Street Caravan, Memphis College of Art, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, The Metal Museum, Opera Memphis, Playhouse on the Square, STAX and Theatre Memphis.

In the 2009 school year, ACT served approximately 11,000 students in 38 schools.  More than 70% of these students are economically disadvantaged and participate in the free lunch program.  Additionally, for the past 2 summers, the ArtsMemphis in collaboration with MCS offered a 2-week arts program for all middle school students at no charge.  Seven arts organizations as well as eight MCS teachers participated in this program which gave the students the opportunity to visit the venues of the arts groups and to have hands-on experiences at each one.

Memphis City Shcools at Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Current ACT sponsors include the following:  Buckman Laboratories, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation., Gerber Taylor, Grizzlies Foundation., Hyde Foundation., International Paper, Macy's, Medtronic, Memphis City Schools, Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck, Schadt Foundation, and William Weiss Foundation.