In an effort to reach out to youths in our community, Syracuse University’s Music Education Program has partnered with El PUNTO Art Studio, a contemporary arts education program offered at no cost for children and teens in Syracuse NY. Music Education is affiliated with both the Setnor School of Music and the School of Education at S.U. while El PUNTO Art Studio is a program designed by the Syracuse-based Punto de Contacto-Point of Contact, offered in collaboration with the Spanish Action League and La Casita Cultural Center. This new partnership will now enable the creative exploration of music and sound for El PUNTO’s participants this spring.

“For the students and programs in the School of Education and the Setnor School of Music, having a place to teach, develop curriculum ideas, and try bold moves and actions in music education is priceless. I believe Syracuse University students will benefit from having the opportunity to learn how to teach youngsters and also learn from and with the children who want to engage in artistic projects through The Point of Contact Gallery,” said Elisa Dekaney, Music Education Chair at S.U., who will oversee that part of the program.

El PUNTO is an interdisciplinary arts program designed in collaboration with top-rated guest artists in a multicultural setting. The program consists of six weeks of Saturday workshops from March 21 to April 25. This year the program will culminate with a live performance and exhibition at The Point of Contact Gallery, and the production of a digital and printed illustrated storybook with CD recording included, featuring the youth’s own stories accompanied by their own music too.

“Enrollment for the program is now open and it’s filling up fast,” said Tere Paniagua, executive director of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community at S.U.’s College of Arts and Sciences. “This program that began with 12 children in 2011 had a total enrollment of 65 last spring. Many of the participants return every year and we want to have something different for them each time. None of this would be possible without the generous support of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and we are truly grateful for that.”

This hands-on art practicum is designed as an exploration in the literary, visual, and performing contemporary arts with the participation of local and guest artists. The program this year will include music education workshops under the guidance of professional musician and S.U. professor Elisa Dekaney and her students Jamie Yavorsky, Anna Lilikas and Ashley Orifice. Illustration workshops will be guided by artist Yvonne Buchanan, also a professor of S.U.’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and acting workshops by S.U. student Julian Fernandez of the Drama department at VPA. The workshops are open to the first 65 students who sign up.

This program is open to youths between the ages of 6 and 16. Workshops take place every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm at various locations, mainly at La Casita Cultural Center and the Point of Contact Gallery in the Near Westside of Syracuse. To sign up, participants can call Point of Contact at 315-443-2169, or email: pointofcontactgallery@gmail.com

Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact, Inc. is an international arts organization in residence at Syracuse University, creating opportunities for the exploration of diversity and the exchange of ideas through the verbal and visual arts.