The Kentucky Arts Council has awarded $7,020 in Alternative Connections Grants to support artist residencies specifically designed to meet the needs of at-risk youth in Kentucky alternative schools or juvenile justice facilities.

In Jefferson County at the Bellewood Presbyterian Home for Children, a one-week residency was held with artist/musician Allison Upshaw. Upshaw brought recording equipment to the school and started by discussing the basics of writing with students. She then followed up with teaching students how to incorporate their writings with rhythm and the end product was a CD that the students created and titled, “Street Memoirs: Rebirth of the Innocent.”

 “Allison does a lot of different music. She does opera and other styles as well,”

said Teresa Landenwich, head teacher for the Alternative Connections grant

project. “They wrote songs about being in a residential placement, like

Bellewood, and one song they wrote was about the ‘order of operations’ to the

 tune of Old McDonald. That’s what they were covering in their math class.”

The students participating were ages 13-17.  One student, Charles D., said, “I

never did anything like that before and never thought I’d get to do anything like

that. It made us feel like we were one of the big time rappers.”

Landenwich said that through this residency the students attitudes toward writing

has definitely changed.

Similar residencies in Alternative Connections programs involve various artists from disciplines such as visual, media and music. The artists demonstrate their art forms and share their creativity with students, teachers and staff. Through this collaboration they provide youth with alternative means of expression.

For more information about the Alternative Connections Program, please contact John S. Benjamin, Arts Education Program Director, at 1-888-833-2787, ext. 483 or John.Benjamin@ky.gov or Pat Ritter, Alternative Connections Grant Coordinator at 270-433-5605 or artmusicpat@yahoo.com. 

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The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet that invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation.  Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $15 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: FY2006 Alternative Connections Grant recipients contact information and participating artists are listed below by county.

Alternative Connection Grants

COUNTY                   ORGANIZATION                                                     AMOUNT

ADAIR                        Adair Youth Development Center                     $1,080

Grantee Contact:       Crystal Miller

                                    (270) 384-0811

Artist Contact:            Sarah Paulson

                                    Burkesville, KY

BARREN                   Barren County Day Treatment Center             $1,080

Grantee Contact:       Dan Belding

                                    (270) 678-5554

Artist Contact:            Sarah Paulson

                                    Burkesville, KY

CUMBERLAND       Cumberland County Alternative                $540

                                    Education Program

Grantee Contact:            Pricilla Schwartz

                                    (270) 864-1480

Artist Contact:            Pat Ritter

                                    Burkesville, KY

JEFFERSON           Bellewood Presbyterian Home for Children   $1,080

Grantee Contact:            Teresa Landenwich

502-245-4171

Artist Contact:            Allison Upshaw

                                    Atlanta, GA

JEFFERSON           Mary Ryan Alternative Education Center            $1,080

Grantee Contact:      Julia Hoffman

                                    (502) 485-8988

Artist Contact:            Ruben Moreno

                                    Louisville, KY

LAUREL                    KY Baptist Homes for Children-Youth             $1,080

Support Center                       

Grantee Contact:       Mary Shield

                                    (606) 862-9132

Artist Contact:            Lonnie Hendrix

                                    Hyden, KY

MADISON                 Bellevue Center                                                      $1,080

Grantee Contact:        Darren Norton

                                    (859) 624-4565

Artist Contact:            Pat Banks

                                    Richmond, KY