Arts Education

ARTSLINK

• To revitalize, renew and develop arts-education programs for conservatories of music in states of disrepair/dysfunction around the world
  
  
• To empower local leadership and therefore provide sustainable arts curricula and performances
  
  
• To have cross-cultural arts exchanges serve all communities involved
  
  
• To create an unprecedented level of new artistic collaborations

The transformational renovation of Morocco’s Casablanca Conservatory of Music

Construction

1. The architectural design and integration of a recording studio
2. Consultations for a 300-seat concert hall
3. Opportunities for collaborative stained glass window(s) designed by children and mural painting commissioned work with renowned American and Moroccan artists
4. A small museum of Andalucian musical history with an adjoining gift shop

Curriculum

1. Re-creation of an inter-disciplinary curriculum to include master class certification and graduate level accreditation according to international standards (the goal is to find US-based conservatory partners for this.)
2. Supplementation with new disciplines (eg: arts management and digital music recording)
3. Cross-cultural exchange programs and collaborative programs
4. Exploration of ethnomusicology and preservation of the collaborative Arab-Judeo heritage

Community Outreach

1. Instrument donation program
2. Pilot music programs to aid underserved populations
3. Youth outreach/mentorship program

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2007 International Architectural Competition
for the renovation of Morocco’s Casablanca Conservatory of Music.  To be re-built Genesis-fashion as a cross-cultural collaborative green project between US and Moroccan sound engineers, architects, and developers. Selection of the winning design by an international jury; Entries accepted 9/07-1/08; Groundbreaking Spring ’08. 

The Art of Peace Curriculum & Magic Carpet
celebrate diversity by exploring personal and cultural identity through core subjects and storytelling to promote tolerance and to improve academic outcomes of under-served students.  (Phase III - Nettelhorst Chicago Public School)

• This student-centered curriculum addresses the issues of peace on four different levels: inner or personal, inter-personal, community and global peace.  Each level of peace is examined through the lens of a series of essential questions and interdisciplinary topics linked to state academic, social and emotional learning standards. 
• The units employ a problem/project-based approach and include suggested readings, assessments, students’ written reflections and proposed community field trips. 
  

Alphabet for Peace
This children’s book helps parents create a dialogue and build a vocabulary of positive concepts to encourage parent/child discussions about our transforming world and the peace children can bring to it.  

Tapestry of Story & Sound
A GATC creation commissioned by the Chicago Children’s Humanities Festival.  Playful Irish storytelling and folk music woven with that of Persian tales, perfumed with sounds of the santur contrast with the magical kora musicianship and Senegalese folk stories.  Riveting storytelling and stirring music transport children to distant corners of the world while promoting ethnic awareness and cultural understanding. (Re-mount LA, Fall 2007) 

Documentary Film Production
Genesis has recorded its events, including cameo interviews with the artists, attendees and organizational personnel, to create an inspirational hour-long documentary for public television and worldwide audiences.  Narrated by Hollywood Filmmaker Harold Ramis; doubles as an educational teaching tool.  Both The Art of Peace & Magic Carpet and the quilting workshops filmed for a children’s documentary. (World premiere - 2008)