PROJECT SPARK

Project SPARK - Educational Outreach Program for Grades 1-8

PROJECT SPARK Springboard into the Performing Arts for Rural Kids Educational Outreach Program for Grades 1-8 We all know the impact that the Arts can have on children. Among other things, learning in, and through the Arts improves reading skills, math ability and even SAT scores. Arts education has been proven to help “level the playing field” across socio-economic boundaries and to significantly improve critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making.

In order to bring these advantages to the children of Addison County the Vergennes Opera house has developed Project SPARK — Springboard into the Performing Arts for Rural Kids.

The Goals of Project SPARK are:

   • To bring the performing arts to children who normally, due to geographic and  economic circumstances, would not have access to such experiences and;

   • To inspire educators and provide them with the tools they need to integrate arts into the curriculum.

Through partnerships with some of the State’s best musicians, dancers, actors and arts organizations, Project SPARK offers Addison area schools a choice of 14 unique, curriculum based arts experiences. Each individual project caters for up to 300 children.

If you would like your school to participate in Project SPARK please contact our Executive Director, Donna Lord, at (802) 877-2913.

We would like to thank the following individuals, companies and foundations who have made Project SPARK a reality through their generosity and support:

The A.D. Henderson Foundation

The George T. Mergens Foundation

The Frances R. Dewing Foundation

Country Home Products

Ed and Beverly Biello

NATIONAL LIFE Group

Lars and Robin Hubbard

Co-Operative Insurance Companies

Daniel and Grace Barberis