Year-end 2022 Message
Dear Friend of Arts Education,
Do you remember the pride you felt as a child when creating a special painting at an area art studio or the joy of learning an instrument at a local music school? With over 13% nationally and 26% locally of children below the poverty, the reality that so many children do not have the means to reap the benefits of an arts education, as many of us did in our childhood, is staggering.
As we near the end of 2022, Prairie Music & Arts is changing direction to realize our vision of providing accessible arts education – partnering alongside area organizations to reach as many children as possible and ending our chapter as a private music lesson provider.
We need your help more than ever to make this change happen!
For 23 years, PMA has offered enriching programs for young musicians, visual artists, and actors. Programs within our walls and beyond have fostered a supportive environment for countless children to express themselves, collaborate with others, and strengthen life skills through artistic experiences.
Will you be a changemaker to ensure children have equal access to these necessary opportunities?
With the help of our partners and supporters like you, we’re growing in our ability to serve. Together, we achieved the following in 2022:
- Increased reach to serve youth at the McKenzie Family Boys and Girls Club and four Sun Prairie Community Schools after-school sites
- Developed the first-ever Prairie Home Show, a student-produced music, comedy, and interview production for youth grades 6-12 in the Sun Prairie Area School District
- Collaborated alongside the City of Sun Prairie and Sun Prairie Community Schools to design and install a permanent mural at Sheehan Park that reflects the community’s vision for diversity and inclusion
- Coordinated the first-ever citywide Make Music Day, an annual global musical celebration on June 21st.
As the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) multidisciplinary arts organization in Sun Prairie, PMA complements existing community organizations by serving as a single-source hub for arts education – expanding educational opportunities that support the whole child. We are stronger through these partnerships and know the benefits of working together will be exponential.
We invite you to join Prairie Music & Arts in creating access to artistic learning experiences that enhance emotional well-being and foster connections. Your year-end contribution will help us double-reach by the end of 2023 and assist us in becoming an ongoing resource for the community!
From all of us at Prairie Music & Arts, we thank you for your commitment to arts education and wish you a healthy and creative new year!
With Gratitude,
Kari Walton, Prairie Music & Arts Executive Director