From Urban Gateways Center for Arts Education:
Like other non-profit organizations, A.R.T. was severely affected by a combination of recession, public policy challenges, and limited philanthropic support. In response, the A.R.T. board elected to suspend operations and seek a merger partner to help assure the viability and continuation of its key programs and services. The mutual recognition that both organizations share similar missions, values and services, provides a solid foundation for this merger.
A.R.T. will be identified as Urban Gateways’ Visual Arts Program portfolio, incorporating artist residencies and special initiatives in painting, sculpture, fiber/textile arts, printmaking, graphic design, photography, animation, and other mediums for students Pre-K through 12th grades. Other Urban Gateways teaching and performance programs are offered in music, dance, theatre and literary arts, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive arts service providers in Chicago.
Urban Gateways is also establishing an A.R.T. Giving Circle to maintain a direct recognition for A.R.T. donors; inviting A.R.T. Teaching Artists and Board Members to join the Urban Gateways community, and implementing specific A.R.T. signature programs to carry forward the Art Resources in Teaching’s legacy. A celebration event for Urban Gateways and A.R.T. community members will be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2013 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm in the Ryan Education Center at The Art Institute of Chicago.
According to Karim Ahamed, the outgoing chairman of A.R.T., “Although we are sad to close A.R.T. operations after 119 years, we have found an ideal partner in Urban Gateways. Like A.R.T., they are committed to enriching the lives of Chicago school children by giving them access to high quality arts education. We are especially grateful to Urban Gateways for allowing the A.R.T. legacy to live on, both through the rebranding of their visual arts programming under the A.R.T. umbrella and by continuing some of our most successful programs and initiatives under the combined organization.”
Chicago’s new Cultural Plan, CPS Arts Education Plan, and new Common Core State Learning Standards have drawn renewed attention to organizations like Urban Gateways and A.R.T. as consistently reliable resources for high-quality arts programs. “Arts education is now widely recognized as an essential part of youth development, while consistent funding remains a significant challenge. This merger enables professional artists to continue inspiring and educating students across Chicago under a more sustainable administrative structure”, explains Urban Gateways Executive Director Eric Delli Bovi.
The organizations’ complementary and overlapping visual arts programs will generate new capacity to deliver high-quality programs under shared educational standards. Combined community-based efforts will enable the growth of new and existing partnerships and sustainability strategies as both organizations are committed to initiatives that serve many of Chicago’s most under-served neighborhoods. The merger will also provide an immediate and positive impact on Urban Gateways’ capacity to serve more children with engaging arts programs while significantly reducing the combined administrative costs of both institutions. These administrative cost savings are estimated to reach $250,000 or more annually by merging staff, office and other expenses, providing a compelling case for continued and increased funding from donors to support these vital programs.