St. Paul, MN—COMPAS has been named one of six Saint Paul Public Schools’ Arts for All—Arts 25 program sites for 2007-08. This award provides $5000 for Highland Park Elementary to partner with COMPAS to explore a variety of cultural and curricular connections via West African dance and drumming. From younger students learning math concepts through patterning, to older students exploring the community-building role of drum ceremonies, Highland Park Elementary’s Arts 25 project is designed to stimulate our students’ imaginations and expand their understanding of the multiple cultural functions of West African dance and drumming.
The program celebrates the arts as a core academic area, taps into the richness of local arts resources and artists, and embodies best practices in teaching and learning and helps students meet arts standards. In addition, the project will provide professional development for Highland Park educators that will connect them to new models of working with students, and will allow them to extend this learning throughout the entire school.
The COMPAS arts residency will be conducted by drummer Francis Kofi (February 1-22). Please join us at Highland Park’s Arts 25 Community Event on February 22 to celebrate the creative expressions of our students.
COMPAS has been engaging people and communities in creating art for forty years. We believe that there is power in creative self-expression and that participation in the arts is fundamental to the life of every individual and community.
