PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Kimmel Center, which has been closed since March, has had to cancel hundreds of performances. But the Kimmel is continuing its dedication to the arts by offering free classes to schools in the Philadelphia region.
The Kimmel Cultural Center, which includes the Kimmel Center, the Merriam Theater and the Academy of Music, has lost millions of dollars in revenue since the pandemic hit.
But president and CEO Anne Ewers said the focus now is on giving free arts education to schools in Philadelphia, which includes charter and parochial schools.
“The thing I’m most pleased about is that we really feel we need to continue supporting the Title I schools with education. So, we have transformed all of our educational offerings to digital, so that we can continue to serve the schools,” she said.
Teachers will have access to the Kimmel’s “Creative Stages” programs, offered completely online.
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The Kimmel said the goal is 50 classes with 30 students in each class, with the focus on fourth, fifth, and sixth grades.
The Kimmel said Jazz4Freedom is designed for fourth graders and links jazz to Black history and social change. One Musical Philadelphia is the fifth grade offering, and uses musical theater to encourage teamwork.
And the sixth grade program, titled #PhillyBeatz, is a technology-based program with the goal of creating new music.
Classes are also being offered for students who play traditional jazz instruments, are interested in musical theater, and for preschoolers.