Local Theater Poison Apple Productions Awarded Grant

POISON APPLE PRODUCTIONS Awarded California Arts Council “Arts Education: Extension” Grant

State funds support after school arts education programming in Contra Costa County.

MARTINEZ, CA – The California Arts Council announced its plans to award $13,500 to Poison Apple Productions as part of its Arts Education: Extension program.

As a segment of the California Arts Council Arts Education grant opportunities, Extension grants support arts education programs for PreK-12 students that operate after school and during the summer, on school sites, in artistic venues, and in community settings. The intention of the program is to offer young people sequential, hands-on training in artistic disciplines, including dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, Poison Apple Productions will expand and enhance their Apple Academy Educational Theatre Program, a graduated series of performance-based classes for youth aged 5-18. This grant will help maintain the high quality of the programs and shows produced, hire quality Teaching Artists, and provide scholarships for underprivileged youth.

“We’re so excited and honored to have been awarded this grant from the California Arts Council,” said Noelle Arms, Poison Apple Artistic Director. “We have seen so many performing arts programs in schools and within Contra Costa County get cut over the past five years, and our after-school programs have grown very popular as a result. With this grant, we can devote more resources to maintaining the quality and affordability of our ever-expanding programs. We believe theatre changes lives and therefore should be accessible to everyone.”

Poison Apple Productions is one of 169 grantees chosen for the Arts Education: Extension program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council.

“The Arts Education Extension program capitalizes on the potential to create arts learning opportunities for California’s young people whenever and wherever possible,” said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair. “Projects like the Apple Academy Educational Theater Program allow for the positive impacts of arts engagement to continue undeterred.”

To view a complete listing of all Arts Education Extension grantees, visit http://arts.ca.gov/programs/files/FY1718_ProjectDescriptions_AE-EXT.pdf.

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The mission of Poison Apple Productions is to promote increased participation and understanding of live theater among youth and young adults. They provide affordable arts education and enrichment experiences in a positive, supportive environment that encourages learning, creativity, and artistic self-expression for participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. To find out more, visit their website at www.poisonappleproductions.org.

The mission of the California Arts Council, a state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. The Council is committed to building public will and resources for the arts; fostering accessible arts initiatives that reflect contributions from all of California's diverse populations; serving as a thought leader and champion for the arts; and providing effective and relevant programs and services.
Members of the California Arts Council include: Chair Nashormeh Lindo, Vice Chair Larry Baza, Phoebe Beasley, Christopher Coppola, Juan Devis, Kathleen Gallegos, Jaime Galli, Donn K. Harris, Louise McGuinness, Steven Oliver, and Rosalind Wyman. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.