ABOUT ISPA
G R E E T I N G S | Executive Director’s Message
Thank you for taking the time to visit ISPA’s website. The most common question we are asked is where is your school located? With much thanks and appreciation to our devoted partners, ISPA delivers programs inside local schools, recreation and community centers, and faith-based organizations in Washington, DC and Charles County Maryland. This deliberate approach was a major component of our strategic plan to improve access to performing arts programs to people of all ages, race, and abilities. This approach also allows us to serve more youth in the community while ensuring 80% of funding is allocated to direct program costs.
ISPA Foundation was established in 2009 to provide an innovative approach to performing arts education. You will notice an integration of well-being or health education in each of our performing arts programs. Being in the music industry for over twenty years, I have gained a first-hand understanding of the many physical, emotional and mental demands of an artist. After witnessing a number of talented musicians who fell to ineffective coping strategies and unhealthy lifestyles, it became apparent that proactive strategies were needed during artist development to support aspiring artists in their journey to success.
Through much cooperation and collaboration, ISPA has been successful in incorporating messages of healthy lifestyles through our various programs. We rely on feedback from community members and organizations so that we can continue to hone our approaches and achieve our strategic goals. As we strive towards these goals, we continue to seek support from passionate individuals and organizations to carry out our mission. Make a difference, support the arts! Again, thank you for taking the time to visit our site. Please come back again.
Sincerely,
Charles Garris
THE 4 C's
Cognition: The arts expand our knowledge and contribute to intellectual comprehension. Studies have shown that the arts teach children how to think critically, solve problems, analyze and synthesize information, evaluate and make decisions. Building on Bruner’s notion of spiral curriculum the program strives to present instruction to participants in a manner different from the traditional school day (Bruner, 1960). Emphasis is placed on incorporating state curriculum and general life skills into the performing arts instruction.
Culture: The arts help us to understand people and the traditions and symbols that have meaning for them. The arts are international and transcend the limits of different languages, and help to bridge the gaps in a diverse and complicated world.
Communication: The arts helps us send and receive messages in a variety of media that are their own form of literacy. The arts use sights, sounds, and movement to convey meaning beyond the power of words. Arts education develops the the ability to interpret and understand complex symbols in the same manner as language and mathematics.
Creativity: The arts teach the skills associated with imagination, invention, and innovation-skills. Creativity learned through the arts is linked to the processes of scientific discovery, business planning and negotiation. ISPA is committed to providing innovative strategies to: (1) provide music, dance, and artistry education and promote cultural awareness; (2) increase access to the performing arts, and (3) provide a platform for talented individuals to demonstrate their talents. ISPA embraces the latest technology in sound and music production, promote community engagement and rigorously pursue strategic alliances.
Mission
The mission of ISPA is to promote self expression and well-being through performing arts education with individuals of all ages.
Vision
We envision artists who excel in their artistry and champions of their own well-being.
ISPA’s Core Philosophy?
Describe the item here. Include important features, pricing and other relevant info. An arts education develops a diverse range of cognitive abilities; it helps teach and promote achievement across disciplines, as well as fosters the development of spatial, mathematical, logical and physical abilities. The core philosophy of ISPA are the four C’s: Cognition, Culture, Communication and Creativity.
