MAYO STREET ARTS

MANY INDIVIDUALS INTERACT AT MSA AND FEEL A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP, INCLUDING THESE THREE PRIMARY GROUPS: KENNEDY PARK YOUTH: MSA'S AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES, SCHOOL PERFORMANCES, AND SUMMER CAMP ARE ROOTED IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH. STAFF MEMBERS AND TEACHING ARTISTS ARE PROVIDED WITH ACES TRAINING TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN HEALTHY COPING SKILLS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT JUST ONE CONSISTENT RELATIONSHIP WITH A CARING ADULT CAN ACT AS A POWERFUL BULWARK AGAINST TRAUMAS WHICH MAY OTHERWISE LEAD TO CRIPPLING OUTCOMES LIKE LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY AND INCREASED CHANCES OF INCARCERATION, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. TRADITIONAL ARTISTS: WE PRESENT A BROAD ARRAY OF PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING AN INTERNATIONAL OPEN MIC AND AN INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE SERIES CELEBRATING REGIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE TRADITIONS. ARTISTS SELECTED FOR THESE SERIES EMBRACE FOLK AND HERITAGE FORMS, OFTEN EMPLOYING UNIQUE INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS THE KORA, NYCKELHARPA, AND HURDY GURDY. MSA FACILITATES THE TRADITIONAL ARTS NETWORK (TAN) IN COLLABORATION WITH CULTURAL RESOURCES. TAN IS A CONSORTIUM OF TRADITIONAL ARTISTS WHO WISH TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THEIR ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL PRACTICES. TAN IS BUILT AROUND THREE PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS: ARTIST GATHERINGS, MICROGRANTS, AND APPRENTICESHIPS. WE CURATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE MASTER ARTISTS TO LEARN ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN PASS ALONG THOSE TRADITIONS, EARN INCOME, AND SHARE THEIR CULTURE WITH THE GREATER COMMUNITY. PUPPETEERS: OUR LOCAL PUPPETRY COMMUNITY IS SERVED WITH MONTHLY PUPPET SHOWS AND WORKSHOPS; AN AFFINITY GROUP; SEMI-ANNUAL PUPPET SLAMS FOR EXPERIMENTAL, ADULT, AND SHORT-FORM WORKS; AND A BIANNUAL CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL PUPPETRY. THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OUR SEAT-TO-STAGE MODEL OF ENGAGEMENT: PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS EXAMPLES OF A PERFORMANCE MODALITY, HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM VISITING ARTISTS AT AFFORDABLE WORKSHOPS, AND LOW-BARRIER OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AT OUR PUPPET SLAMS.