News release from the Fort Wayne Community Schools:
FWCS honored by Fort Wayne Museum of Art
(April 22, 2016) – Fort Wayne Community Schools’ staff and students were honored at a special program by partner Fort Wayne Museum of Art for the successful collaboration that has resulted in tremendous growth in FWCS’ Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and recognition by the U.S. Department of Education for the Hope Gap Project. FWCS’ regional Scholastic Awards have grown from 31 Regional Awards and no National Awards in 2014 to 80 Regional Awards and five National Awards in 2016.
“The increase in FWCS’ Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a direct result of the efforts of dedicated FWCS teachers and administration and the partnership with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art,” said Dr. Wendy Robinson, Superintendent of FWCS. “The Hope Gap Project has exposed our students to urban artists who have been successful and inspired them to submit their art to the Scholastic Awards.”
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Program is the largest, longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for talented young people in the nation. The Fort Wayne Museum of Art’s Scholastic program boasts thousands of national awards and has been recognized as one of the best in the country.
“The Fort Wayne Museum of Art’s success in leading the Scholastic Art and Writing Affiliate Program is directly related to our willingness to invest money and human resources in our region’s young people,” said Max Meyer, Director of Children’s Education at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. “The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is incredibly proud of its contributions to the betterment of young people and our partnership with all of our tremendously talented teachers.”
The Hope Gap Project is an innovative program developed in 2014 by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art that engages Scholastic Art & Writing Awards alumni from diverse backgrounds to inspire and motivate youth in FWCS. Through online webinar technology, the Hope Gap Project includes a series of virtual classroom lectures featuring successful alumni artists who share the challenges they faced in their artistic journeys and encourage youth facing similar challenges. The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is a funded partner of Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne. This activity was made possible, in part, with support from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
About Fort Wayne Community Schools
With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 51 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.