How Long Reach for the Arts is sharing creativity and community with Austin ISD
Last Thursday was a special one here at the LC – prior to the evening’s incredible performance by Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, our campus was buzzing as the exceptional dance group prepared to perform a matinee – for over 2,200 Austin ISD students!
This event was underwritten by Sarah & Ernest Butler and made possible by Long Reach for the Arts, our program in which we host K-12 students for one-of-a-kind experiences at the Long Center – all for free. In this Mid-Week Intermission, we’re diving in to share a little more about this program and the spectacular moments it creates, and why we’re putting it at the forefront on this year’s Amplify Austin Day.
AT THE SHOW
While we of course love the Long Center’s ✨regularly scheduled programming✨, the School Show Days that this program creates are some of our favorites. Students and staff from 26 AISD schools gathered to attend the morning’s performance along with a Q&A with dancers and the Mexican American Cultural Center. Based on the belief that art is a necessity and that it should be accessible to everyone, Long Reach for the Arts strives to provide new opportunities for creative discovery, connecting students to the center of Austin’s artistic identity year-round.
And Thursday’s performance was a shining example of just how important those opportunities are. If you’ve never been in a performance hall with 2,200 screaming, cheering, ECSTATIC students, let us be the ones to tell you – it’s something else!
Every seat in the house was locked in on what was happening on stage. As the world-class dancers dazzled with their choreography, costumes, sense of humor, and surprises, you could actually feel the excitement in the air. It was clear that not only were those kiddos watching the performance, they were participating in it too.
THE IMPACT
More than just a performance, this show was a celebration of heritage as Mexican folklore, culture, and music were displayed on a truly dazzling scale. Being able to provide so many dual-language students with creative programming that features Spanish language elements is something we value, and keep top of mind when working to create these opportunities for students.
“We loved how this felt like a community event, with different organizations coming together to support our young people and teachers, and make them feel at home and valued.”
Austin ISD Staff Member
By removing traditional barriers to access like transportation and ticket prices, this program gave students who attended Thursday’s performance the chance to be immersed in creative programming they may not have had access to otherwise, with some engaging in the arts in this capacity for the very first time. And to experience it in a way that could make them feel inspired, celebrated, and connected to their community? Well, we think that’s pretty darn neat!
HELP US DO MORE
The impact was tangible – all you had to do was look at the faces (and listen to the cheers (and screams)) of the students after the show. While we do a ton of cool stuff here at the LC, it’s moments like this that highlight our impact and get us all soft n’ tender. And we can’t wait for even more just like it!
“I saw the student and teachers’ faces before and after the show. They were so excited. I was crying tears of joy, literally crying like a baby.”
Austin ISD Executive Director
That’s why this year on Amplify Austin Day, we’re raising $20,000 for this special little program of ours. Join us on this community-wide day of giving and help us continue to provide even more one-of-a-kind arts experiences for students in our community.
Thank you to our Long Reach for the Arts supporters for making this all possible!
Sarah and Ernest Butler
MFI Foundation
The Long Foundation
Dr. Marylin Gaddis and Lt. Col. George Carruthers
Sharon Hall
All photographs by Brynn Osborn
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
