RACC Press Release: The Right Brain Initiative invites public to celebrate its second school year

Contact: Rebecca Burrell, The Right Brain Initiative Outreach Specialist 503.823.2965 |  email: [email protected]

May 25, 2010 -

The Right Brain Initiative invites public to celebrate its second school year

On Monday, June 21,The Right Brain Initiative will present Show + Tell 2010, a public event commemorating the completion of its second school year. More than 200 parents, teachers, artists and civic leaders are expected to attend the event at the airy Leftbank Annex in North Portland. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

Who: The Regional Arts & Culture Council and The Right Brain Initiative What: Show + Tell 2010, a showcase of student work and program impact When: Monday, June 21, 4:30 – 6:30pm (presentation at 5:30) Where: Leftbank Annex  |  101 N Weidler, Portland, OR 97227

In 2009-10, Right Brain brought creative learning experiences to nearly 11,000 K-8 students and 540 teachers in 23 Portland area schools. As Right Brain’s biggest community event of the year, complete with live music, Show + Tell is the best opportunity to see the impact of the program on area school systems and on the artists who lead these classroom arts experiences.

Participants at this event will also receive an advanced viewing of Right Brain’s new traveling exhibition. Housed in an 8x16’ portable shipping container, this multimedia exhibition will feature samples of student work, evidence of impact on the communities served, and a spotlight on the mechanics of the program model. It is scheduled to land in locations throughout the Portland tri-county region from June through the fall 2010.

Show + Tell acknowledges the teachers, administrators, artists, donors, volunteers and other community members that united this year to help students express, imagine and create in brand new ways through The Right Brain Initiative. A presentation at 5:30pm will include a public recognition of these community partners and a glimpse into the classroom experience through a conversation between a teacher and student who have participated in Right Brain programming.

During the 2009-10 school year, Right Brain served the following diverse K-8 schools, bringing high quality arts experiences regardless of neighborhood, language or readiness to learn:

·       Gresham-Barlow School District: East Orient and Hollydale Elementary

·       Hillsboro School District: Free Orchards, Lincoln Street, Jackson, and Quatama Elementary

·       North Clackamas Schools: Ardenwald, Concord, Oak Grove, Spring Mountain, Sunnyside and View Acres Elementary

·       Portland Public Schools: Beach PK - 8, Glencoe Elementary, Hayhurst School, James John Elementary, Meriwether Lewis Elementary, Markham Elementary, Rigler K-8 School, Sitton Elementary, Vestal K-8 School, Whitman Elementary, and Woodlawn School

About The Right Brain Initiative: The Right Brain Initiative is a sustainable partnership of public schools, local government, foundations, businesses and the cultural community, which launched its programming in Portland area classrooms in January 2009. The program’s goal is to achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the Portland metropolitan region’s school districts. The Right Brain Initiative is a project of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, with Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington serving as Implementation Partner. Read more online at www.TheRightBrainInitiative.org.

About Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC): RACC is a nonprofit arts services organization serving the Portland metropolitan area, including Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties. In addition to serving as the managing partner for The Right Brain Initiative, RACC provides grants for artists, arts organizations, schools and other community-based arts projects; conducts workplace giving for arts and culture (“Work for Art”) and other advocacy efforts; provides workshops and other forms of technical assistance; shares printed and web-based resources for artists; and integrates artwork into public places. Read more online at www.racc.org.

Mary Bauer

Communications Associate

Regional Arts & Culture Council

108 NW 9th Avenue, #300

Portland, OR 97209

503.823.5426

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