Arts Education
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MECA currently offers educational and outreach opportunities via its In School Program, Out of School Time Program, the Support Services Program, and the Summer Sunburst Summer Arts Camp.
Reduced funding for the fine and cultural arts prevents many schools from sponsoring arts programs. MECA helps fill this void via its In-School Program whose mission is to support Houston-area schools with limited or no arts funding by providing high-quality arts education training that aligns with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum. By applying for local, state and federal funding for which schools are not eligible, MECA can deliver programming at Houston-area campuses that is curated for each school’s particular area of need. Examples of these resources are Harris County Department of Education through CASE for Kids, Arts Connect Houston and the United Way of Greater Houston’s Out2Learn program. Currently through this funding MECA is serving approximately 180 students among six HISD schools and one community program of immigrant youth at an apartment complex in South Houston. The Out of School Time Program is hosted at both the Dow School and the TBH Center campuses to provide youth a safe environment and constructive activities outside of regular school hours. Students in this program participate in music, dance & visual arts classes, attend workshops and master classes with guest artists and artists-in-residence, and perform at end-of-the-semester recitals, as well as at festivals, holiday concerts and community events. Registration and class fees are based on a sliding scale according to family size and income. Families unable to pay may participate in the Community Arts Exchange program which allows a portion of the tuition to be covered by volunteerism and community service. MECA’s Support Services Program utilizes social and academic support services in conjunction with the arts to ensure that community is served in a holistic manner, meeting their social and emotional needs. Clients receive counseling, and referrals for crisis intervention, substance abuse education, and long-term counseling. Additionally, all students enrolled in the Out of School program are eligible to receive free tutoring, SAT preparation, and assistance with college selection, application, enrollment, and financial aid counseling. Academic and artistic scholarships to college-bound students are also available. The Sunburst Summer Arts Camp is an 8-week, in-person, full sensory experience that focuses on the holistic well-being of youth and serves approximately 150 students from grades K-9. The camp theme changes annually and addresses the importance of multiculturalism in everyday life. The MECA artistic team, with feedback and contribution from partnering agencies, creates and implements a unique arts and education curriculum enriched with concepts in Numeracy, Literacy, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) that combats the critical learning loss experienced by lower-income students during the summer months. Camp admission is on a first come, first served basis and tuition per student is based on a sliding scale according to family size and income. Free lunch is provided. |
Music
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MECA’s music department consists of a diversity of musical genres and styles from numerous global cultures. Both private and group classes are available, as well as periodic workshops and master classes. Music students have the opportunity to perform in end-of-the-semester recitals, and at community celebrations and special events.
MECA students and ensembles have performed at such institutions as the Winter Olympic Games, Miller Outdoor Theater and Wortham Theater. Ensembles have toured to Vietnam, Norway, Ireland and Mexico, and students represent MECA in various international competitions. Available music classes include:
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Our 2019 Student Recital Days; Each student displays the skills gained from their training. All ages & class levels are displayed throughout the Recital Days.
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Dance
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MECA’s dance program promotes physical fitness while exploring creative expression and cultural diversity. Each dance idiom counts with a strict curriculum created specifically for MECA by dance professionals. Classes include warm-up exercises and core strengthening to promote injury prevention while placing an emphasis on dance technique. Workshops and master classes with touring artists are often provided.
MECA’s most popular dance discipline is Mexican Ballet Folklórico. Mexican Ballet Folklórico is a traditional art form that combines elements of classical ballet and folk dancing. These colorful dances of Mexico with their choreography, costumes and accompanying music vary by geographic region, and may depict local animals, attire and folklore. MECA’s Mexican Ballet Folklórico ensembles are comprised of both youth and adults and are frequently invited to perform at community celebrations, festivals and special events. The practice of these classical and traditional art forms help students develop a sense of cultural pride and respect for diversity, as well as physical coordination, teamwork and confidence. Available dance classes include:
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Our 2019 Student Recital Days; Each student displays the skills gained from their training. All ages & class levels are displayed throughout the Recital Days.
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Visual Art
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MECA's visual Arts classes provide students a forum for hands-on creative expression activities. Classes are designed to encourage youth to explore their interests and imagination through various disciplines. The visual arts program serve underserved children, children with disabilities, youth, and adults. Students five to twelve years of age begin learning and implementing the principles and elements of design creating 2-dimensional and 3- dimensional works of art. Materials used in the classroom include but are not limited to, acrylic paint, colored pencils, markers, crayons, clay, fiber, aluminum, and wood. The goal of this class is to introduce the students to a variety of ways materials can be used to create art.
Students 13 and up learn the proper techniques of many disciplines, including metal, jewelry, ceramics, fiber, glass, woodworking, and illustration. The goal of this art class is to engage the students in critical thinking so that they can convey their thoughts and ideas through art. Both levels of art classes experiment with new media, photography, and animation. A sewing and fiber arts class has also been implemented into our curriculum. In this class students learn stringing, beading, lacing, tying knots, cutting, ironing, pattern making, embroidery and embellishment, weaving, and dyeing. Students also learn how to hand stitch and use a sewing machine. Available art classes include:
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Crafts vs Art: Kids art education just as important as math
Our visual arts instructor, Michael Allen Martin, takes teaching art to your kids as serious as HISD takes the Math STAAR test. Crafts have their place, but MECA is dedicated to quality art education. |
