The Bologna Performing Arts Center’s new literacy initiative will put copies of children’s books into the hands of more than 2,000 kids this year. The Read It, See It, Be It program is backed by community partners and local granting organizations, and spearheaded by the Arts Education Department at the BPAC.
The BPAC has acquired $7,000 to fund the new program. The new book distribution initiative links to existing programming, encouraging teachers, parents, and children to draw connections between literary narrative and stage performance. Tickets are currently on sale for the School-Time Matinee Series (STMS), a program that brings in professionally-staged performances aimed toward children. Of the six performances slated for the 2018-2019 season, three are based on children’s books. Classes who attend the School-Time Matinee Series performances will be given the chance to purchase the books for $1 per copy.
In addition to the new reduced-priced books program, the BPAC will continue its scholarship tickets program for public schools in qualifying counties. Tickets to STMS performances are $6, but with scholarship funding, ticket prices are reduced to $1 per student. Schools who qualify will then be able to purchase a ticket to the performance, as well as a book, for only $2 per child. Teachers will also receive links to study guides that accompany the performances, available for free download at bolognapac.com/education.
The first STMS performance is Dallas Children’s Theatre’s Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly, sponsored by Monsanto, and takes place on Wednesday, October 10, with two performance times at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. To reserve tickets and copies of books, contact the arts education office at 662-846-4844, or email Arts Education Coordinator Cade Holder at cholder@deltastate.edu.
Reduced-priced book distribution is made possible by several financial funders, including the King’s Daughters and Sons Circle Number Two and the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The Delta Arts Alliance will likewise partner on the book distribution project with visual and performing arts programming. The scholarship tickets program is made possible by support from Double Quick, Inc. and the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.
