Sweetwater Center for the Arts, located in Sewickley, PA, had a vision – to provide quality arts programming with teens who might otherwise not have access to their programming. To do this, Sweetwater wanted to meet teens where they are and produce quality digital arts education. Last year, a grant from Eden Hall Foundation helped make this vision a reality. Through the grant Sweetwater purchased 16 new iPad Pros with digital illustration applications. Sweetwater developed curriculum aligned with national standards for teaching digital media arts. During sessions held on-site at Avonworth and Aliquippa high schools, teaching artists taught students about and provided opportunities to explore the emerging field of digital arts as they simultaneously formulated artistic solutions that positively impact their communities.
“Our 50-year anniversary is bringing a new vision for our future: a vision that is focused on the development of artists within our community,” Brondyke said. “Our future is all about strengthening partnerships, creating new partnerships and getting Sweetwater to have a greater reach and impact.”
Sweetwater’s work in Avonworth and Aliquippa is just the start of an evolutionary change for the center’s programming and art education. There is strong demand for Sweetwater’s programs. For those interested in volunteering or providing support for Sweetwater, reach out via their phone (412-741-4405) or website sweetwaterartcenter.org/.
“Our partnership with Eden Hall enables us to provide arts education to students that wouldn’t have access to it otherwise,” Christine Brondyke, Sweetwater’s executive director, said. “This grant in particular is very important to us because it’s allowing us to get outside of the center and into the community that we serve, allowing us to be more present. Additionally, we are excited to provide teenagers with opportunities to use technology to engage in the arts.”
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