As part of our continuing efforts to support communities in need and reach new constituencies through innovative arts programs, Urban Arts Partnership often creates special projects that address specific issues of both local and global importance.
“My experience doing The Memory Book Project with Senior Citizens inspired me to want to become a Social Worker with the elderly. Emilio Ayalo, motivated me to do something meaningful for the elderly since not enough people seem to care or are helping out.” - Diana, New Design High School
This project served as an advanced seminar for qualified and motivated Urban Arts Partnership students, and was co-produced by recent graduate of New Design HS and Urban Arts Partnership programs, Clevins Browne. This project is currently in post-production.
In 2008, Urban Arts Partnership piloted an exciting new project initiative to bridge cross-generational connection and interaction between senior citizens and public school students here in New York. Using Digital Media arts, including photography, film, audio recordings and editing equipment, students from New Design High School collaborated with members of the Lillian Wald Houses in Alphabet City to create original Memory Books, forever capturing and sharing the unique and fascinating stories of elderly New Yorkers.
Bringing this Broadway sensation and annual benefit concept to our youth, Urban Arts Partnership introduces theatre students from our schools and Life Stories program to the 24 Hour Plays experience. Within the span of 24 hours, students, directors and writers meet, draft original plays, rehearse them, then perform the original productions before a live audience. Support from directors and playwrights has been provided with special thanks to Rosie Perez, Tina Fallon, Michael Kenneth Williams, Ben Karlin and Michael Lew.
This collaboration with The New Group offers advanced theatre and playwriting training to our exceptionally talented high school students. The Life Stories program runs throughout the school year, and brings together students from a number of high schools to produce two original performances each year.