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WASHINGTON, Jan 25, 2006 (U.S. Newswire via COMTEX) -- Young people from communities across the U.S. and Mexico who engage in after- school arts and humanities programs that promote educational achievement and productive lives will be honored by Mrs. Laura Bush at a ceremony for the 2005 Coming Up Taller Awards in Washington, D.C. The ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday, January 25th.
From photography and media arts in New York City, to playwriting and book groups in the heartland, to live theater and musical performance on the west coast and Hawaii, the honored programs represent a diverse array of experiences that enable young people to nurture their interests under the disciplined and caring tutelage of educators and community leaders. All programs will receive $10,000 in honor of their accomplishments in enriching the lives of young people and their communities.
"When young people have the opportunity to explore the arts and humanities and discover their creative side, a new world is opened to these students," said Bush.
Coming Up Taller is an initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH). The President's Committee partners with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to administer the program, which was founded in 1998.
The Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and support outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people, and provide them with new learning opportunities and opportunities to contribute to their communities. The awards also highlight the contributions that historians, scholars, librarians and visual and performing artists make to families and communities by mentoring children. More than 250 nominations were received by the program in 2005
"The arts and humanities develop bright young people who will lead our nation in the future," said Adair Margo, Chairman, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. "Coming Up Taller recognizes the best of after-school and summer programs that engage youth in music, theatre, dance, photography, history and all kinds of enriching activities that help them realize their full potential as human beings."
Representatives of each program will be in Washington to accept the awards. The following programs will be honored:
The ArtsLiteracy Project, Brown Summer High School, Brown University, PROVIDENCE, RI
Cathedral Choir School of Delaware, Cathedral Community Services, WILMINGTON, DE
Latino Outreach Program, Philadelphia Museum of Art, PHILADELPHIA, PA
TRUCE, Harlem Children's Zone, Inc., NEW YORK, NY
ICP at the Point, International Center of Photography, NEW YORK, NY
Youth-Art-in-Action, Museum of Fine Arts, BOSTON, MA
Teen Media Program, The Community Art Center, Inc., CAMBRIDGE, MA
Cultural Alternatives Division, Music and Arts Center for Humanity (MACH), BRIDGEPORT, CT
Pillsbury House Theatre's Chicago Avenue Project, Pillsbury United Communities, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Book Group Programs at Family Focus, Literature for All of Us, EVANSTON, IL
JAMS, Van Go Mobile Arts, Inc., LAWRENCE, KS
Moving in the Spirit, IndepenDANCE, Inc., ATLANTA, GA
Old Stories, New Voices, Colorado Historical Society, DENVER, CO
The School Project, Inside Out Community Arts, Inc., VENICE, CA
Castle Performing Arts Learning Center, Department of Education: J.B. Castle High School, KANEOHE, HI
The Art and Children Project in VERACRUZ, MEXICO
The Margarita Septien Ludic Center in COLIMA, MEXICO
"Through the Coming Up Taller program, the President's Committee focuses national attention on exemplary programs that enhance the lives and learning of young people who are most at risk," said Henry Moran, Executive Director, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. "We believe our nation's future -- our leaders, artists, writers, musicians, educators and entrepreneurs - depends on the investment these excellent programs make in the lives and talents of our youth."
The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) bridges the interests of federal agencies and the private sector, supports special projects that increase participation, and helps incorporate the humanities and the arts into White House objectives. Laura Bush is the Honorary Chair of the PCAH.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education.
Because democracy demands wisdom, the National Endowment for the Humanities serves and strengthens our Republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal grant making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners.
CONTACT: Chris Beakey, 202-667-0901 or chris.beakey@widmeyer.co Copyright (C) 2006, U.S. Newswire
