Pre-School Art and Music Project

Chicago - Last fall two grants were awarded to the Albany Park Community Center in the amount of $14,000 from the Child Care Center Quality Improvement Small Grants Program. The Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation, the Leo S. Guthman Fund, Prince Charitable Trust and the McCall Family Foundation jointly piloted this small grants program. These funds were used to facilitate the development of young children by integrating art and music throughout the curriculum. More specifically, the grant enabled the Center to collaborate with DuPage Children's Museum and Old Town School of Folk Music.

Teachers and children attended on-site workshops and were coached by facilitators. DuPage Children's Museum worked to develop a foundation in art processes and techniques whereby children gained experience in basic curricular concepts through art. The concepts covered in the lessons pertained to math, science and emergent literacy.

Old Town School of Folk Music provided two artists that held professional development workshops. They used curricular concepts in music to learn songs for children that would transition them throughout the school day; they learned about multicultural instruments and how to use them; and incorporated dance into daily routines.

"This grant provided meaningful instruction to both our staff and the children who participate in the Early Childhood Program," said Diane Yost , Executive Director of the Albany Park Community Center . "There is no doubt that on-site workshops and coaching has improved professional development at the Center."

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