The VanGo Project Programs
The VanGo project aspires to offer programs in performing art, visual art, literary art and wearable art. We currently operate an ongoing ukulele program for 4th and 5th grade students that meets weekly after school. Our goal is to help students play for personal enjoyment and to create community through music.
Our visual arts program included a tour of the Elles exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum during winter break. Current plans are to offer a class for the fall that features a visit to the museum's upcoming exhibit on Japanese fashion designers and a six-week after-school program that includes re-purposing used sweaters into wearable art.
For literary art, The VanGo Project is sponsoring a school tour by Book-It Theater for grades K-3. This theater group inspires literacy by bringing literature to life on the stage. Their visit will include a performance of Skippyjon Jones, by Judy Schachner, and a workshop for 35 students.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In June 2012, seven students from our ukulele program were awarded their ukuleles.This achievement was the result of regular attendance and meeting certain performance goals. The current group includes new and returning students. Every new student has the opportunity to keep their ukulele like the previous group.
We also ran an eight-week after-school class last spring that combined basic art fundamentals with a trip the Gauguin exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum. Students created original works with oil crayons, colored pencils, water color and tempura paint.
The VanGo Project needs a used shuttle van that can be converted into a mobile classroom. This component is crucial for The VanGo Project, which currently operates during the school hours. A mobile classroom would enable the organization to offer classes on Saturdays and during the summer. In addition, it would broaden the volunteer base to include those artists who are only available on weekends.