Contact
Box Office 310264-4224
Email simon@virginiaavenueproject.org
3000 Olympic Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90404(map)
Mission
The Virginia Avenue Project is a free, after-school program that uses the performing arts in conjunction with long-term, one-on-one mentoring to help kids discover their full potential. Through a sequence of writing and performing programs, Project kids develop life skills and give voice to their creativity. In the words of a recent Project graduate: "Now more than ever I urge all Project kids to empower their own communities as the Project has empowered us. The artists and teachers at the Project believed in me and gave me confidence - I know now that anything is possible if we believe in it!" To echo these words, we think that all kids should believe that anything is possible. Our programs address the following objectives: To use the writing and performing arts to provide kids with tools for self-expression and increased academic performance. To provide a supportive environment for kids to express a personal vision and experience validation from their peers. To provide kids the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with caring, nurturing adults.
History
Founded: 1992
The Project was founded in 1992 by Leigh Curran after working with the 52nd Street Project in New York City. Funding support came from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Threshold Foundation, the Ann M. Martin Foundation, and the Educational Foundation of America. From the beginning, our community partner has been the Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL). We teach classes and workshops at their site, offer year-round academic tutoring and mentoring, and rehearse plays for production. The Project's long relationship with PAL is a unique one as both organizations collaborate to offer the surrounding community valuable programs they would not otherwise have access to. PAL provides a safe haven for hundreds of young people in the vulnerable "after school" hours and the Project provides PAL with an active, on-going arts component allowing community children and their families access to the arts and arts programming not available at home or at school.
In addition to classes and workshops, the Project presents four to five shows a year at professional theatres throughout Los Angeles, showcasing poetry, plays, photography and video created by Project kids and their adult artist/mentors. We also publish an annual literary magazine, The Buzz, compiled by students and their mentors in our creative tutoring program, Smart Partners. Through our Outreach Program we are involved in public schools, Title One schools and schools for children who are learning disabled. Over 100 committed volunteers work with the Project each year as mentors, tutors, teachers, designers, and committee mem