BERKLEY SECURES $409,000 FOR SMITH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PROGRAMS

Resources Will Be Used for Arts Education Programs, Performances for Students at Las Vegas Schools

(September 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.)  Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV) today announced that the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas has been awarded $409,000 in federal funding through the Department of Education.  The resources, which will fund arts education and performances for southern Nevada school children, were secured by Berkley in the FY 2009 education funding bill.

“Southern Nevada will be culturally enriched through the addition of the Smith Performing Arts Center to the Valley.  This funding will be used to provide arts education training for local teachers and for a series of performances in Clark County Schools.  These performances entertain students, teach them valuable lessons and introduce our young people to theatre, dance, music and other forms of artistic expression,” said Berkley, who recently attended a ground breaking ceremony for the Smith Center.

Once completed, the Smith Center will offer a blend of performances by local arts groups as well as first-run touring attractions. It will feature music, theatre and dance companies from all over the world, and will be home to the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre.  The $409,000 in total funding awarded to the Smith Center will provide funds for all projects within the Center’s arts education program. The grant will support four specific educational projects:

Southern Nevada Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts: Working in partnership with the United Way of Southern Nevada’s “Success by 6” program, the Smith Center will conduct seven week residencies in 40 preschool/child development centers throughout the community.

Kennedy Center Partners in Education week-long residencies: Five artists from the Kennedy Center Partners in Education roster will conduct one week residencies in selected schools throughout the community. The artists will also offer professional development workshops for teachers and engage in demonstration teaching and direct instruction with students connecting a specific arts discipline and a core curriculum area.

In-school performances of “Nobody’s Perfect” developed by the Kennedy Center: The Smith Center will present six performances of this play about challenges of hearing impaired children in school to student audiences of grades 3-5. Teachers will receive curriculum-related materials for use with their students.

Additional curriculum-based in-school performances: Working in partnership with the Clark County Parks and Recreation Cultural Division, local artists from the Class Act Roster of Performing Artists will conduct lecture demonstrations in selected schools sharing the discipline and artistry of various art forms including dance, vocal, instrumental, drama and world cultures.

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