LIVING ARTS BLOG
Living Arts New Executive Director: Laura Scales
After being remote for the past 18 months, we had our first in-person staff meeting with our new Executive Director. We met in my (Alaina Clarke, Communication Manager) backyard so we could be outdoors and be physically distanced from each other. Following our staff meeting, with bubble tea in hand, Laura and I grabbed a comfy seat in my backyard to chat and get to know each other a little bit better!
Alaina: “Okay, I’ll start with a couple of softball questions to get us going! What is the last tv show you binged and loved?”
Laura: I love Veronica Mars, Battlestar Galactica, and Psych. I rewatch them at least once a year.
A: Yes!! I just watch Veronica Mars for the first time this year. It was so good. Next! Podcasts, audiobooks, or physical books? What are your go-to’s?
L: I LOVE reading. I will read anything I can get my hands on. When I can’t read a physical book, I will tune into an audiobook. Currently, I am reading Magnus Chase Series by Rick Riorden, Bridgerton Collection by Julia Quinn, and The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
A: That’s so wonderful! I have a massive stack of books I’m working through and can always make my day better! What is one thing that can instantly make your day better?
L: Going for a walk outside. I love being outdoors and if I need to clear my head, going for a walk with my son (and dog) always does the trick.
A: What is one thing we’d all be surprised to learn about you?
L: My brother is a rock star. My brother, Phillip-Michael Scales is a singer/songwriter who just signed with a record company in France!
A: That’s amazing and congrats to him! So, tell us about yourself, what is your story?
L: I grew up in Metro-Detroit, West Bloomfield to be specific. Both of my parents were business owners in Detroit, so my younger brother and I spent our weekends with my Aunt and Grandmother in Highland Park. I went to the Roeper School and from there headed to The Theatre School at DePaul University (formerly the Goodman School of Drama.) I studied Stage and Production Management and went on to intern at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and apprentice at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. I then joined the team at Emerald City Theatre as their Production Manager for four years before moving onto the University of Chicago. At U of C, I severed as their production manager and taught the stage and production-management students. I also assisted in building the Logan Center for the Arts and the performing arts programming within its walls. Eight years later I moved to Michigan and became a Spartan (Go Green!). At Michigan State, I sat on the board for the Department of Theatre and Arts & Cultural Management. I was thrilled to work with the College of Arts & Letters and Chair the Inclusive Practices Committee.
A: With your strong background in theatre, this is somewhat of an industry shift, right? What was the reason you decided to shift towards this position?
L: This position is a bit of an industry shift for me. I fell in love with theatre when I was very young and this is the first time in 25+ years I haven’t been gearing up for a stage production.
I started as an actor and when I was 11 years old my brother and I were in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond at the Masonic Temple. It was there I was introduced to Stage Management and I fell head over heels in love with being the person who helped organize the show. Fortunately, my middle/upper school had a very strong theatre program and a phenomenal Director who encouraged me every step of the way.
As a Production Manager, I was in charge of everything you see and don't see on a production. I soon realized my part of my job was teaching and mentoring, that's when I began working in higher education. The pandemic made me re-examine several things, specifically how I was reinvesting my skills and knowledge. The moment I read the job description for this position I knew it was everything I was looking for. Every facet of Living Arts means so much to me. The ability to support Detroit artists and foster a passion for the arts in young people is a dream come true.
A: Living Arts has a long history in the SW Detroit community, how do you hope to build on that history and what new ideas are you excited to share?
L: I am excited to get to know Southwest better. It is such an intrinsic part of Living Arts, I can’t wait to find ways to deepen our relationship and commitment to our community. We are so proud to be partners in the FREC and I am grateful that they host the line share of our Out of School programming. I am hoping that we can find more ways to expand our programming within Southwest (I won’t lie, I am also excited to try every restaurant).
A: Can you tell us a little bit about your family and what your favorite way to spend time with them is?
Laura and her son, Dax, traveling in Paris, France.
L: My family loves to read, learn, and travel. At any given time one of us is curled up reading, and I love that about us. My husband and I love tea, and during the pandemic, we had a lot of family tea parties. This is a tradition that I hope will continue. We love going to museums, art galleries, zoos, and historical sites. We’ve been fortunate to have visited museums all over the country and overseas. We are so thrilled to be close to the DIA, Greenfield Village, Meadowbrook, and the other amazing institutions in the area.
A: Wow, I love this! I have so many other questions, but we only have time for one more. Before I ask, I want to say that we are SO thrilled to have you as our leader and are looking forward to all that you’ll bring to Living Arts. It’s going to be really exciting to incorporate all your big plans and we can’t wait to see how they unfold!
Last question time! How would your 10-year old self react to what you do now?
L: 10-year-old Laura would be thrilled. I get to spend my day talking about art classes and finding ways to further support amazing teaching artists.
Join the Living Arts Team!
We are looking for our next Director of Development! Could that be you?
The Director of Development plans, coordinates, and implements Living Arts’ strategies to secure corporate, foundation, government, and individual support to meet the organization’s contributed revenue goals. The Director of Development’s areas of focus will include grants, sponsorship, events, board relations, individual giving, research, cultivation, and stewardship.
The Director of Development is a Full-Time position that reports to and works closely with the Executive Director, in partnership with the Director of Finance & Administration, and members of the Living Arts’ Board of Directors.
See the full description here.
Haga clic aquí para ver este anuncio de empleo en español.
Please submit your written application to jobs@livingartsdetroit.org
In-School Arts Reflection
This school year looked different than any other year before! However, our In-School Arts Program still served over 300 students using art strategies based on sculpting, painting, music, and creative storytelling. In-School Teaching Artists relied on technology to connect with their students, and to be honest, it was weird.
Professional Artist Stephanie Mae RichWell recalls her first virtual session with 3rd graders at Cesar Chavez Academy.
“I gave students editing access to a JamBoard [an extension made by Google] to collaboratively brainstorm, which got out-of-hand quite quickly as a swarm of multicolored pen tools frantically zipped around the page and with a random sprinkling of stamp symbols. In an in-person classroom setting, I can anticipate how students will engage with supplies so I control either with distribution OR instruction. I realized I had no experience in this digital space and, therefore, no anticipatory mayhem safeguards in place!” Stephanie adjusted her process for subsequent classes and quickly learned there are aspects of the virtual world that are just out of our control. There were times when microphones didn’t work or cameras stayed off but it was Stephanie’s safeguards and consistency that stood out in an all-virtual year.
Ms. Byes, a 3rd-grade teacher at Cesar Chavez Academy, spoke about co-teaching this year with our Living Arts residency. “Stephanie was able to capture that child-like innocence and give it back to my students in a language they were able to understand and enjoy. The information or techniques were not too high for them and even if it was a stretch they felt good about displaying their talent.”
With virtual settings, Teaching Artists are constantly innovating and adapting their practice. It also helps that some of them are tech-savvy as graphic designers and sound designers. Teaching Artist and founder of Black and Brown Theater, Emilio Rodriguez, is ready to take on virtual classes next year while staying prepared to go back in person when it’s time. When asked what he will add to next year’s classrooms, Emilio said, “I’d love to incorporate more props and music and ‘trunk show magic’ ie: using small items to build big worlds.” Emilio worked with over 75 students virtually at Schulze Elementary in creative storytelling this past year.
Other highlights from our all virtual school year include collaborating with over 15 teachers and teaching aides throughout the school year. Living Arts was extremely adaptable to our school partner’s schedules and needs. Teaching Artists also got to know parents on a deeper level since they were cast into a student’s home. “Being able to connect with parents and family members who were able to observe the class and join in on some exercises and dancing moments enabled me to build stronger relationships with the students and build trust with parents who were able to see exactly what I was teaching their children,” says Emilio.
Despite it being a strange year, our in-school Teaching Artists persevered and made it to the finish line. Adapting to online learning has given our team new challenges and Living Arts takes great pride in giving students a creative outlet for self-expression, whether virtual or in-person. A special thank you to our school community partners Cesar Chavez Academy, Schulze Academy for Technology and Arts, and The Community Education Commission. We look forward to seeing you in person next year!
Family Workshop with Audra Kubat
Summer is here! On June 24th, Living Arts hosted a Family Workshop with Teaching Artist Audra Kubat. This workshop invited parents and caregivers to engage with their child or children through music and movement by activating the artist within! The workshop was in partnership with Wayne Metro Community Action Alliance.
This is a past event and was held on Thursday, June 24 via Zoom.
Reflections on Learning in a Pandemic
This year was one for the books. No matter how you look at it, it was monumentally disruptive and transformative. Now that our spring classes have ended, I have been reflecting with Teaching Artists, parents, and students about their experiences and what's sticking with them as we move ahead. Three powerful themes that have come up in many conversations are artistic fluency, a plant/garden metaphor, and the power of community.
Theme 1 - Artistic Fluency
This year, virtual classes explored a deeper relationship between emotions and artistry. I witnessed a deepening of artistic expression simply because we were not able to devote as much time to the technical growth within each medium. This seemed counterintuitive to me until I looked at it through the lens of language acquisition. In language, you can memorize word definitions, spelling, conjugations, and grammar to gain the tools needed, but fluency doesn't come solely from knowing words. It comes from the adaptive challenge of making decisions that don't have a right or wrong answer, yet figuring out a way to use techniques you know to express what you intend. In a similar way, the artistic ability also develops through technicality and fluency. Our young artists were able to use techniques they already knew, and a few new ones, to express themselves more deeply and with greater conviction this year. We've even developed some ideas for ways to use card games to encourage technical growth and fluency for the coming year.
Theme 2 - Plant/Garden Metaphor
For many of us, our program team is like a metaphor of a tree or garden, which is in part inspired by a training I attended from the Rising Leaders program through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA). The facilitator, John McCann, was leading us through a series of reflective exercises on biomimicry as metaphors for leadership. A friend of mine posed the question - “Does true failure exist in nature?” That made me wonder, “how do we build a holistic system at Living Arts where there is no true failure?” This prompted a series of questions that I've explored with our team:
Who are the fruit?
Who are the branches?
Is any one role trying to be too many parts?
Does the tree have enough water to pull nutrients from the ground and create healthy fruit?
Who are the bugs that digest nutrients in the ground that we need?
Reflecting on these questions, I’ve come to understand the garden metaphor as a system where people share learnings, insights, difficulties, and pain points, to work separately and together in concert to create a healthy garden. A garden where mistakes inform our work as much as successes; where the bees and worms are just as integral to the system as the branches and the fruit; where the death of one thing leads to nutrients for the next and we work systematically to maintain a healthy codependent equilibrium. These reflections have provided me with a useful framework for exploring the possibilities of our organization and how we operate as we emerge from the pandemic.
Theme 3 - Power of Community
Despite all the challenges this year, our Out-Of-School Arts Program (OSA) completed 30-weeks of virtual classes, produced a 1-hour time capsule video with all 23 classes contributing a segment, and came together as a community to learn, grow, and build this program together. We have had to create flexibility in our plans, sometimes changing them at the last minute, and, through it all, we persevered. We were in constant collaboration with our Teaching Artists, youth, families, and staff to figure out how to reimagine things. Teaching Artist, Stephanie Mae RichWell, said it best:
"Teaching in a virtual setting really made it clear how strong of a learning community OSA has nurtured. Out of all the virtual programming I did, OSA was the MOST successful because we had already built trust and a foundational skillset as art-makers to allow for freedom of choice and social support to be successful. Really special!"
I am endlessly grateful for our collaborative team who is always willing to bring challenges and adaptations to the forefront alongside the beauty we witness daily.
Behind the Scenes with Ms. Stephanie
Stephanie teaches visual arts classes for ages 3-18 for our Out-Of-School Arts Program (OSA), has been a lead adult facilitator and mentor for teen initiatives such as Open Arts Fest and Beauty in Ugly Times, and she teaches arts-infused classes to six 3rd grade classrooms to connect art to science curricula. Art activities are on a weekly basis during school hours where students use 3-D clay (model magic) to mold environments and animals. Learning objectives include identifying physical traits of the animals based on student designs and discussing why they are well suited for certain environments.
What does your at-home setup look like to teach your Living Arts Classes?
I never thought I would be teaching from my living room floor but a pandemic forces us to make surreal adjustments to regular life. So, welcome to my classroom, my office, my art studio, and my Netflix binging nest!
Virtual teaching certainly has its limitations with visual art, particularly regarding supplies, so 'Keep It Simple' is my mantra. Since most students are either working at kitchen tables or bedroom floors, the first half of out-of-school classes focused on drawing with markers in our sketchbooks (from the first round of art kits). Now that we've ALL had some time to get our 'At Home' studios set up AND we've distributed the second round of art supplies, we’ve ventured into watercolor paintings.
How has your setup evolved since you first began teaching virtually?
Since we started back in October, my physical setup has not changed much. What has changed slightly is starting to incorporate more directed art prompts, however freedom of choice, self-expression, and opportunities to share with peers has been the MAIN FOCUS of virtual learning in these times.
What are your hopes for the next 12 months with Living Arts?
One of my favorite aspects of teaching from my couch is that my kitties can make guest appearances (as well as students' pets and siblings and the occasional cousin). Can you see little Chowder sleeping? I really miss in-person teaching and cannot wait to see students in person again but I have seen incredible development in students' art practice as they take control of their creative expression. I hope we've all learned how strong and flexible and caring we can be when the world flips upside down and I hope that we bring our beautiful, creative selves into the new world.
Summer Art Party with AleshaNicole
Tonight, Thursday 6/17 from 5:30 - 6:30pm, Living Arts is hosting a Summer Art Party! This virtual event will be hosted by Great Start Collaborative with artist AleshaNicole. Join us as we celebrate African American Art & Music, specifically coming out of the Harlem Renaissance era. There are no supplies required for this event. Be prepared to sing and listen as Alesha takes us back....WAY BACK!
This event is in partnership with Brilliant Detroit and is a part of our Family Workshop series so bring your little ones too. Please register in advance to receive the Zoom link.
Salakastar + A Host of People: A Reflection
Top Right: Salakastar, Teaching Artist; Bottom left: Brent Smith, In School Activities Program Manager
Now more than ever it is essential to stay connected with our teaching artists. Last month, I had the pleasure of chatting with Salakastar for our Power of He(art) Campaign! Salakastar, is an actor, singer-songwriter, poet, and teaching artist working in theatre, television, film, and music.
We talked about so much: teaching artistry, local music, and theater, and that one time she took a photo with White Stripes, Jack White. During our talk, what stood out to me the most was Salakastar’s excitement around her new upcoming art projects. This past year, she’s launched her own music label Salakastudios because she wants to control how her music is released. Her most recent release, December 22 (for Jean-Michel), is a beautiful ode to Basquiat, the artist. On the SUBJECT MATTERS podcast, Salakastar says she writes from a “blue space” and she’s not always able to understand or decode her songs until long after they are written. As an independent artist and label owner, Salakastar is now able to release her music on her own timeline.
When Salakastar’s not building up her music label, she’s collaborating with A Host of People. In the spirit of togetherness, A Host of People is a Detroit-based theater company that runs a little different than traditional theater companies. They create “devised theater” where the process starts with a theme. From that theme the words, movement, story, design, costume, and set are created over nine months to a year. Devised Theater, or collaborative creation, is the process of making plays in which everyone is involved from the actors to the designers. A Host of People offers a curriculum for high school theater and colleges & universities. These introductory classes provide an overview of the intricate national and international landscape of companies that work in this way, as well as creating some short devised pieces.
I recall my introduction to the Host of People...
Flashback to 2016, I was collaborating with a theater company in Hamtramck, THE HINTERLANDS. It was the first time I had been introduced to devised theater for a performance art piece called The Radicalization Process. My assignment was to create an editorial in a fictional newspaper called the People's Press existing in 1984. I ended up writing a piece called Get Hampton. I wrote from the perspective of Fred Hampton who was killed by police in 1969. I asked myself what if Black Panther Fred Hampton had survived his own assassination in 1969? How would an assassination on his life transform him as a revolutionary? What words would he have written in the year 1984 and what would he say about the next chapter in black progress at the age of 36? Fred Hampton was murdered when he was only 21-years-old.
The article went to print and I attended the show. I stayed connected to The Hinterlands and attended their “utopian dinners” where I met other theater creatives from A Host of People who use theater to disrupt and reimagine how people view the world. The experience taught me about the power of storytelling and how theater is more than just “performing.” Theater is a tool to bring people together and create choreography and dialogue that’s long-lasting. As Salakastar mentions in our He(art) Talk, the slow cooking process in devised theater enhances her artistic life because she feels more woven in the DNA of the piece. I couldn’t agree more.
_________________
Performance: Cleopatra Boy Photo Credit: Baraa Ktiri
Salakastar is currently working with A Host of People on a performance called Fire in the Theater, which is about free speech. To stay up-to-date and informed about all performances, including how you can see Fire in the Theater in the future, follow A Host Of People on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and visit their website here.
Fly Me to the End of Stories!
-Discovering the power of bilingual stories through dramatic play for parents of early learners.-
Our Spring Art Series continues this month! Living Arts is inviting our partners across the Detroit region for a virtual family workshop, led by Teaching Artist Karilú Alarcón Forshee. This event will be held on Thursday, May 20 at 6pm via Zoom. Our theme is “Celebrating Latinx Culture” together!
Step into the world of stories and use drama as a tool to support early learners' development. Explore the importance of bilingualism and culture as a source of connection to enhance learning. By highlighting Latinx stories and authors, we will understand the value of exposure to our own and other cultures. The workshop will focus on social-emotional development and emergent literacy. During this highly interactive bilingual workshop, participants will learn how to dramatize stories to best support effective learning at home. Parents will explore role play, the use of simple props and costumes, as well as adapting familiar songs to bring stories to life.
Teaching Artist, Karilú Alarcón Forshee, 2018
Along with Living Arts, Karilú currently serves Wayne Metro’s Early Head Start programs and is an interdisciplinary performing artist with a degree in theater arts and English-Spanish translation from the University of Texas. She was raised in Juárez, México. She began her artistic education at a young age at La Academia Municipal de Arte and has been performing ever since.
We are so delighted to virtually host and partner with Great Start Collaborative-Wayne (GSCW, which includes the Parent Coalition and Detroit SOARS). Come sing, dance, and learn with us! Please register in advance for this experience. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the workshop.
This virtual event will be held on Thursday, May 20th at 6pm via Zoom, register below, in advance!
¡Volemos al final de los cuentos !
-Descubrir el poder de las historias bilingües a través del juego dramático para padres de niños pequeños.-
¡Nuestra Serie de Arte de Primavera continúa este mes! Living Arts está invitando a nuestros socios en la región de Detroit a un taller familiar virtual, dirigido por la Artísta Maestra Karilú Alarcón Forshee. Este evento se llevará a cabo el jueves 20 de mayo a las 6pm a través de Zoom. ¡Nuestro tema es “Celebramos la Cultura Latinx” juntos!
Adéntrese en el mundo de las historias y utilice el drama como una herramienta para apoyar el desarrollo del aprendizaje infantil. Explore la importancia del bilingüismo y la cultura como fuente de conexión para mejorar el aprendizaje. Al destacar las historias y los autores latin, entenderemos el valor de la exposición a nuestra propia cultura y a otras culturas. El taller se centrará en el desarrollo socioemocional y la alfabetización emergente. Durante este taller bilingüe altamente interactivo, los participantes aprenderán cómo dramatizar historias para apoyar mejor el aprendizaje efectivo en casa. Los padres explorarán el juejo de roles, el uso de accesorios y disfraces sencillos, así como la adaptación de canciones conocidas para dar vida a las historias.
Teaching Artist, Karilú Alarcón Forshee, 2018
Junto con Living Arts, Karilú actualmente trabaja en los programas Early Head Start de Wayne Metro y es una artista escénica interdisciplinaria con un título en artes teatrales y traducción de inglés al español de la Universidad de Texas. Creció en Juárez, México. Comenzó su educación artística a una edad temprana en la Academia Municipal de Arte y ha estado actuando desde entonces.
Estamos muy contentos de acogernos virtualmente y asociarnos con Great Start Collaborative-Wayne (GSCW, que incluye Parent Coalition y Detroit SOARS). ¡Ven a cantar, bailar y aprender con nosotros! Por favor regístrese con anticipación para esta experiencia. Después de registrarse, recibirá un correo electrónico de confirmación con información sobre cómo unirse al taller.
Behind the Scenes with Ms. Alesha
It’s time to take another look behind the scenes! Alesha Brown (Ms. Alesha) teaches Family Involvement classes through our Out of School Activities Program, including Baby Artsplay! for ages 0-3 and Detroit Wolf Trap for ages 4-6. She also leads workshops for caregivers through the Brightmoor Quality Initiative.
What does your at-home setup look like to teach your Living Arts Classes?
For my setup, I use a large ring light I bought off of Amazon, my Mac Air laptop OR iPhone with zoom app, my gathering drum, my voice, and my body. I am always prepared to use any and every item that exists in my home that makes music for sound exploration or ensembles some type of character or prop that can have personality. With my virtual setup, I teach Baby Arts Play and Family Involvement Classes live through zoom. I also record on-demand content for Brightmoor Quality Initiative provider’s self-care, child-centered experiences, and family engagement experiences.
My first steps are always to ensure:
The iPhone or laptop is charged because it's my camera for the class or recorded experience.
I am crispy clear in the angle (which has a lot to do with lighting)
The lighting is not too bright or too dark (having an adjustable ring light with a nice spectrum of lighting shades and strengths is helpful here)
I am using as much natural light as possible through windows by opening curtains or blinds.
I have all props and/or instruments I could potentially use nearby OR I am prepared to sing/chant a transition very loudly so that they still have an experience while I go grab whatever I need to grab.
My lesson plan is very loose and flexible/adaptable enough to make a change based on their engagement or lack thereof
How has your setup evolved since you first began teaching virtually?
When I first started, it was just a small ring light, a small tabletop tripod, and my android phone. I ended up getting an iPhone as a work phone for my entrepreneurship needs, and the camera is better. It also syncs up nicely with my mac laptop for easy transfer of files. I also bought the larger ring light that has the holsters for a phone and a larger tablet.
What are your hopes for the next 12 months with Living Arts?
My hope is to get three different setups as I have different environments for different parts of my career. It is somewhat frustrating having to do all of those things in the same space and create variety instead of just going to different rooms that are always set up for the different programs and clientele.
I also hope to create a transition into holding space for our Living Arts Families with a focus on community care through the arts. We are all transitioning into a new normal and as Living Arts empowers our youth, we also want to empower our families.
Living Arts Names Laura Scales As New Executive Director
The native Metro Detroiter and Michigan State University faculty member was selected to lead the arts education nonprofit.
Living Arts announced today it has named Laura Scales as its new executive director to lead the Detroit-based arts education 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Starting June 1, 2021, Scales will carry out the organization’s mission to ignite creativity in the lives of Detroit youth through the performing, visual and media arts.
Scales is a lifelong supporter of the arts and has worked in professional stage and production management the past 17 years. Scales currently serves as an academic specialist faculty member at Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre. Before joining MSU, she served as the production manager for the Theater and Performance Studies Program as well as the Chicago Performance Lab at the University of Chicago. As a Metro Detroit native, Scales said she’s excited to return home to lead an arts organization that values diversity, equity and inclusion and provides artistic opportunities for youth.
Over the past 20 years, Living Arts’ 40 teaching artists have partnered with schools, organizations and communities to deliver high quality arts education experiences to Detroit youth ages 3 months to 18 years. Coming out of the pandemic, Scales said it will be more important than ever for these students to have creative outlets.
“Having been through this year, I can’t imagine going through it as a young person,” she said. “We’re here to help them process this year and to unpack it through art and expression. I want them to dance it out and draw it out. I want them to write about it, to sing about it, to illustrate it, and I think Living Arts is uniquely qualified to help students do that — not just in Southwest Detroit but across the metropolitan area.”
Living Arts formed a search committee of parents, teaching artists, staff and board members and partnered with Koya Leadership Partners to assist with recruitment. The community-led effort included support from The Kresge Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The five-month long hiring process resulted in a competitive pool of diverse and qualified candidates.
Living Arts Board Chair Matt Nahan said Scales emerged from the candidate pool as a perfect fit. “As an artist, small business owner and production manager, Laura's transferable skills lay the ideal foundation for an arts executive. Her experience managing, budgeting and working closely with artists, producers and institutional stakeholders to bring creative vision to life on stage and in schools makes her the ideal person to lead the next phase of Living Arts.”
Scales earned her bachelor’s degree at The Theatre School at DePaul University. While in Chicago, Scales served as the production manager for Emerald City Theatre Company, where she oversaw the mainstage and touring productions. She was the production management apprentice at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Her stage management highlights include roles as the resident stage manager at the Dorset Theater Festival in Vermont and stage manager for the Human Festival in Chicago.
Former Living Arts Executive Director Alissa Novoselick said Scales is the right leader to take the Living Arts to new heights. “I look forward to watching and supporting her vision to elevate the transformational role that the arts play in young people's lives,” Novoselick said.
Living Arts is supported by a $1.1 million budget, thanks to individual, corporate, and foundation partners, and was named the 2019 Best-Managed Nonprofit by Crain’s Detroit. Scales said she’s inheriting a strong nonprofit and is grateful to the leaders who laid the foundation.
“My hope is that we can be a destination for arts education, and that we can get our quality programming and expertise from our teaching artists into classrooms and homes,” she said. “Even if they’re not actively pursuing art on a daily basis, we want to encourage students, parents and the community to live through art.”
For media inquiries contact Living Arts Board Chair Matt Nahan at boardpresident@livingartsdetroit.org.
From The Bottom of Our He(art)!
On April 1, Living Arts launched our Power of Heart Campaign to raise critical funds in support of our mission. Thanks to the generosity of almost 120 donors, we are thrilled to share that we raised just over $12,000! And thanks to The Cresswell Family Foundation, those funds will be doubled, bringing our total to nearly $25,000!
These funds will be used to continue to provide high-impact, virtual arts programming to our youth. With students cut off from the social and emotional support systems they normally experience through in-person school and after-school activities, we know that providing them a creative outlet and continued connection to their peers and caring adults is needed now more than ever.
We are so grateful for everyone who joined the movement, particularly our lead sponsors: PNC, DKSS, and Robinson Family. Their support combined with everyone who gave online and through our text-to-give platform will have a tremendous impact on our students.
This 30-day campaign also would not have been possible without the support of our committed Social Media Ambassadors: Alima Ali, Zack Bissell, Monica Botello, Susan Brice, Julie Brunzell, Carmen Colón, Angela Galiviz, Tomiko Gumbleton, Derica Hamilton, Monique Harris, Ulli Hildebrand, Rachel Hurd, Lena McDonald, Matt Nahan, Nori Rick, Kayana Sessoms, and Brent Smith, who helped us amplify our message and share Living Arts’ impact.
From the bottom of our He(art)s, thank you to everyone who joined the movement by sponsoring, donating, and sharing our messages. While we are still planning a virtual year, we are excited for what is to come and wouldn't have been able to do this without you!
Missed out on our Power of Heart Campaign? You can still give a gift all year round. Our programs are only made possible because of the generosity of our supporters. Your gift will help us continue to engage Detroit's youth in impactful art experiences through our Power of Heart Campaign.
Lead Donor Spotlight: The Cresswell Family Foundation
Once again this year, our annual fundraising event for Living Arts looks a little different. In lieu of our traditional in-person gathering, we pivoted to a virtual month-long campaign to support our organization. This campaign - The Power of Heart - celebrates Living Arts’ impact on our students and seeks to raise funds to continue critical, virtual programming for our youth.
Through this campaign, we have been excited for the opportunity to connect with our many supporters, including The Cresswell Family Foundation. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate for their overwhelming generosity through numerous fundraising events. And, they don’t just give of their treasure! Foundation Trustee, Susan Brice, also graciously supports Living Arts with her time and talent by serving as a member of our board of directors.
While we couldn’t be more grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to our students, this year, Susan and the foundation have gone above and beyond! To help ensure our students continue to benefit from virtual art programming, they are matching gifts to The Power of Heart Campaign throughout the month. This means that ALL gifts made prior to April 30 will be matched dollar for dollar. Your gift, and more importantly, your impact on our students will be doubled!
“I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact that Living Arts has on the social and emotional well-being of our students,” said Susan. “As the organization continues to navigate virtual experiences, our family is committed to ensuring that kids continue to have access, and we could think of no better way to make that a reality than to support The Power of Heart Campaign. It’s our hope by matching others’ donations, we’ll inspire them to join with us in this critical effort!”
The foundation’s support - and that of everyone who contributes to the campaign - directly impacts our students as we work to carry Living Arts programming through the summer by continuously finding new and safe ways to connect with our youth. In fact, here’s what one of our parents had to say:
“Living Arts to me is a special place because my daughter has been taking classes since she was 4! I have seen her grow in her creativity with dance and art. She has become more confident and outspoken. The Teaching Artists that my daughter has had really care about each and every child, in helping them grow and in worrying about their mental health during this pandemic.” - Parent at Living Arts
Want to join The Cresswell Family Foundation in our mission to continue to provide high-quality arts programming? Text LIVINGARTS to 44321, or give directly here.
For more information about Living Arts and our impact on youth, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and look out for #LivingArtsAtHome and #ThePowerOfHeART.
Behind the Scenes with Ms. Cathy
Living Arts took a big jump, along with everyone else, into virtual learning. We’ve been curious for a while what everyone’s at-home teaching setup looks like, so we decided to give you a peek at three of our Teaching Artist spaces. This will be a 3-part series and we’ll begin with Cathy Taister!
Ms. Cathy teaches Introduction to Dance 1 & 2, Primary Ballet/Tap (and in pre-pandemic times she taught Acrobatics) for ages 3-8 years old. It’s been quite a shift for her, especially learning how to teach dance over a screen. Here is what she had to say!
What does your at-home setup look like to teach your Living Arts Classes?
I hold my zoom classes on a PC that I have hooked up to a DIY projection screen that I made out of my ballet barre and a sheet. This way, I’m able to see my students on a larger scale. I also created spike marks (tape on the floor) for where everything goes, including where I need to stand. Knowing exactly where everything goes, especially how far the speaker needs to stand from my laptop for sound quality, makes getting ready for class easier.
How has your setup evolved since you first began teaching virtually?
At first, zoom did not work well, because of a lack of bandwidth. The sound broke up constantly, the video rarely played, and then my meeting got dropped every time. I tried to zoom on the Mac, my PC, and my phone with no improvement. Finally, my husband suggested hardwiring my laptop which solved the problem.
On my first day of class, I tried having class in my living room. I put my PC on the floor and cabled it to our TV. I loved the large image of zoom, but the space held too many distractions. For the second class, my husband and I created my current setup in my dance space.
Later, I also added a little bit of decorating. The retro dance posters are a shortcut to keeping the space neat looking. The posters add some color to my space and keep the mirrors from reflecting clutter. Keeping my creative space clutter-free is really challenging! Recently I have added flowers and my mom’s pointe shoes into the space. These items have symbolic meaning for me and bring comfort in these odd times.
What are your hopes for the next 12 months with Living Arts?
Ms. Cathy’s cat, Huron, joins in!
I look forward to seeing my students grow both artistically and personally. I hope for the best for my students and their families. Sending everyone wishes for health, safety, and prosperity.
In the big picture, I hope within the next 12 months the world becomes a bit safer and we will once again be able to gather in person. I look forward to gathering with groups and the different energy this connection brings. Until then, best wishes everyone.
Spring Art Series
The Spring season is here! This month, Living Arts is partnering with Great Start Collaborative-Wayne (GSCW, which includes the Parent Coalition and Detroit SOARS) to launch a two-part virtual art series for young children and families. The series will be themed around nature and Earth Day. Both events will be led by Teaching Artist, Katy Schoetzow, who’s worked with early learners in Detroit since 2012. Her experience with teaching literacy and problem-solving through the arts will set the stage for an engaging virtual experience!
Please register in advance for this experience. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This virtual event will be held on Thursday, April 8 & April 22 at 6 pm via Zoom.
“Come sing, dance, and tell stories with Ms. Katy! Our "spring" workshop will dive into the life of bees and how they help pollinate our beautiful flowers. We will explore the science behind a bee's "waggle dance" and look at the various parts of a flower with arts activities appropriate for parents with kids ages 0-5. There's a little something for everyone, no artistic talent or supplies necessary!”
Series Dates: Thursday, April 8 & April 22, 6 pm on Zoom
