Education
Education is at the core of our mission at Cleveland Public Theatre. Since our inception we have offered unique educational programs that celebrate the artist within us all.
Throughout the nation, educational experts are learning more and more about how the arts can play a vital role in personal development. Arts programs have been linked to marked increases in academic and job related skills, positive social behavior, and greater happiness. These studies consistently point out that arts programs are shown most effective when they engage students in small class settings in long-term experiences that culminate in completed projects. CPT's educational programs are conceived on these best practices and the results have been impressive. We are proud to be a leader in the arts and education community, offering powerful experiences for adults and children throughout the Cleveland area.
Self-esteem rises from accomplishment.
Joy grows from discipline.
Personal empowerment flowers out of self-expression.
The mission of our education program is directly linked to that of our theatre. CPT Education seeks to nurture greater compassion and consciousness in our community through arts-centered, long-term, performance-based theatre programs.
CPT educational programs all follow a series of principles. These three principles reflect our aesthetic, pedagogical, and political approach to education, and are deeply related and intertwined.
1) Commitment to Community
All of CPT educational programs are based on long-term relationships with our partners and our students. This approach creates a bond between CPT Teaching Artists and our participants, demonstrating to the community that we are trustworthy and consistent. Long-term relationship opens the door for open exchange between our participants and CPT so that we, as an institution can also learn and benefit from their perspectives, aesthetic, and artistry.
2) We believe art can change lives
CPT educational programs treat every participant as an artist. We engage participants in the full creative process. Together we create original works of theatre, with participants contributing to multiple aspects of the production including the words spoken, the movement, and production elements. This approach engages participants on a much deeper level and gives them greater ownership of the final product. Believing that art can change lives leads us to approach participants with a greater openness to their spirit and mind, but it also leads us to be rigorous and to expect a high degree of discipline and focus. We seek to nurture participants and encourage their creativity, and at the same time we challenge them to go deeper.
3)Celebrating diverse voices
CPT education programs focus on groups of people who are often excluded from art-making. Simply put, we believe that the artistic community and the community as a whole will be richer if a broader group is "at the table."
CPT currently runs four core education programs: Brick City Theatre, Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP), The Y-Haven Project and Women's Voices. Through these programs we have developed concrete and successful arts education methodologies. And they are unlike any other programs in the community, based on student population, classroom setting, and artistic approach. These programs work -- they make a real difference.
For more information on education opportunities at Cleveland Public Theatre, please contact Chris Seibert, Education Director at 216.631.2727 x 201 or via email at cseibert@cptonline.org.
