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Stoughton Center for the Arts Guild
170 Business Park Circle
Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589
Phone: 6088730717
Contact Name: Natalie Norlin
Academy Director
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Organization Profile
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| Stoughton Arts Guild Scholarships - 2024 |
Amount Funded: $3,000.00 |
| The funds will be distributed monthly to the account balances of the 35 students who applied and qualified for scholarships.
In addition to the monthly fundraisers that the Guild makes available to SCA students to offset the cost of classes, the Guild is holding a Gala Fundraiser called Concerto. SCA students will perform at the SHS Performing Arts Center. Invitations are being sent to area churches for a community choir, along with invitations to the SHS Choir, Band and Orchestra. It will be an evening of beautiful performances of Ballet (Balanchines Jewels), Music (Voice and Instrumental) and Theater. The performance will be followed by apps and drinks at The Chorus House downtown. All of the profits from the event will go to the Scholarship Fund.
We have 8 new families this year that have applied for our scholarship program and we are hoping to help these new families financially so that their children may benefit from an arts education.
The Stoughton Arts Guild and Stoughton Center for the Arts has heard from the families about the positive impact made on their student by their education in the arts.
“I truly feel that my children would not have half the confidence and spark that they have without the experiences at SCA. I cant fully explain my gratitude, so Im going to have to just say thank you and hope you understand that I mean so much more than just thanks."Â
Since the pandemic, weve worked with students with anxiety that has caused them to do school from home, need treatment at Rogers Memorial, struggle with eating disorders, and cause fainting requiring them to be wheelchair bound for their safety. These scholarships provide more than just access to arts education.
“Thank you for all that you and the entire SCA staff have done and continue to do to provide a safe environment for our kids. Dance class truly has been the sunshine in my students weeks. I have endless appreciation for it!"
Our main goal is to continue to expand access to students in Stoughton so they can be positively impacted by an arts education, especially for those that would otherwise not have access to it due to their familys financial situation.
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| The Stoughton Arts Guild exists to make arts education provided by Stoughton Center for the Arts accessible to all students regardless of financial status. Historically, arts education was only offered to the elite. According to a National Endowment for the Arts survey, arts education in public schools has been on a steep decline for over 3 decades which disproportionately impacts certain students.
The last NEA survey in 2012, represented in a 2020 American Academy of Arts & Sciences report identifies white students with educated, affluent parents as more likely to be taught art or music outside of school. 48% of families with an income over $100,000 report their students are taught art/music outside of school compared to 21% of families with income under $50,000. 48% of families where the parents are college graduates enroll their students in an outside arts education while 19% of families where the parents are high school graduates do the same.
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences opens the report, Arts education was already in a state of crisis and dire need before the fraught year of 2020, and the pandemic has intensified that crisis exponentially.
In Stoughton, we are aware of the pandemics impact on families finances. Recent data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (August 2023), 27.85% (Fox Prairie) and 35.89% (Sandhill) of Stoughton students qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch.
Stoughton Arts Guild sees similar trends with increasing requests for scholarships. Our 24-25 Season Scholarship demand is $4,500 per month. Meeting this need positively impacts 35 families.
The Guild has offered free or reduced classes to refugees and given scholarships to foreign exchange students. An area student displaced from their home during their Senior year at SHS was given a scholarship to take any class. In addition, the Stoughton Arts Guild held a college scholarship fundraiser for this student.
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences Report details the benefits of an arts education:
Builds well-rounded individuals
Broadens our understanding & appreciation of the cultures & histories
Supports social & emotional development
Builds empathy, reduces intolerance, & generates acceptance of others
Improves school engagement & culture
Develops valuable life & career skills
Strengthens community and civic engagement |
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