Virtual Summer Arts Program 2020

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, BAX will not be running our School Breaks Arts Programs (Presidents’ Week and Spring Break) in 2021. We do, however, intend to run our 2021 Summer Arts Program. Depending on health and safety circumstances, we hope to run the summer as a hybrid of in-person programming (outdoors and in the BAX studios) from July 12-August 6. Please look out for more details in the late winter/early-spring.

Additionally, stay tuned in January for more information about our exciting (and free) 2021 YouthWorkSTREAMS program, which will take place as both an in-person and virtual program during the week of Spring Break (March 29 through April 2, 2020).

To learn about the program’s history, please see program details from 2020 below.

Statement from BAX on COVID-19 and Summer Programming

As we respond to this unfolding, and unprecedented, health crisis, Brooklyn Arts Exchange/BAX continues to take every precaution and proactive action to prioritize the well-being of our community and staff. As such, we have made the complicated decision to pivot from an in-person to Virtual Summer Arts Program. While this will be a summer unlike any other, our staff has been actively discussing the best ways to reimagine our program and to provide families with the same creative, nurturing, and community-oriented environment virtually that we offer in our in-person program.

On June 2, 2020 Governor Cuomo announced that day camps in New York State would be able to operate beginning June 29, 2020. However, as of June 8, 2020 there has been no update in regards to reopening dates for day camps and programs here in New York City, nor has there been any update from State or City officials regarding the necessary regulations and safety precautions to open operation. 

Given the realities of our physical space at BAX, that our in-person performing arts programming requires students and staff to be in close proximity with one another and share supplies, and the labor that would be required to ensure that all participants, staff, and program administration observe proper social distancing, wear masks, and follow increased cleaning procedures, BAX will continue to offer only Virtual programming for Summer 2020. 

Virtual Summer Arts Program Open House Video 

*Some program details have changed since this video was filmed — see below for full details.

Virtual Summer Arts Program (VSAP) Description

Our Virtual Summer Arts Program (VSAP) draws from BAX’s year-round education programs to provide young artists with opportunities to explore different forms of visual art and performance as well as nurture crucial social exchanges with peers and mentors. 

VSAP will take place over 2 weeks from July 20-30th, Mondays-Thursdays, from 9-12:30 p.m. Registration is flexible by week and each is organized by a different exploratory theme that is activated by daily performing arts & visual arts activities.

Participants are organized by two age groups: Nanos (children entering K-2nd grades), Megas (children entering 3rd-5th grades); each group has a capacity of 12. Each group will receive instruction from both a Group Leader and from program director, Andrew Jannetti, as well as from beloved BAX Arts Specialists in a combination of synchronous and asynchronous programming (including live Zoom & Google Site and pre-recorded videos), thus providing children and families with flexible screen time and a combination of social as well as independent activities. 

Weekly Performing Arts Disciplines include:
Dance/Movement (Mondays), Theater/Circus (Tuesdays), Tumbling/AcroDance (Wednesdays), and Music/Instrument (Thursdays). 
Click here or scroll further to learn more about our Performing and Visual arts disciplines.

Exploratory Themes Include:
July 20-23: Shadows, Shapes, Objects
July 27-30: Giving, Growing, Greening

Explore different imaginative themes every week and get creative with us through morning performing arts workshops and afternoon visual arts workshops, both taught by beloved BAX Arts Specialists. Each week will culminate with an open “gallery” slideshow share and virtual community dance for families on Thursdays from 12-12:30 p.m. 

Program Registration by Group

Register Megas

Performing and Visual Art Disciplines

Description

MONDAYS – In energetic dance & movement sessions, young artists use their bodies as instruments for expression and imagination. Drawing from a variety of dance traditions, they will explore fundamental qualities of body movements (space, time, levels, energy, force), create their own movement and have fun!

TUESDAYS – Through an exploration of the embodied character and imagination, participants will experiment with ways to use their faces, voices, bodies, and common props to bring stories to life and have lots of fun doing so!

WEDNESDAYS – Tumbling/AcroDance explores flexibility, inversion, and movement drawing on modern and Acrobatic traditions. Participants will build flexibility, conditioning, and balancing skills while exploring creative expressions of shape, form, and movement.

THURSDAYS – Drawing on the universal instrument of voice, familiar music, and DIY or at-home instruments, participants will explore the joy of music-making.

DAILY – Young artists use their imaginations to explore various arts media projects that draw on familiar at-home objects, but go beyond ordinary arts-and-crafts.  From found object sculptures, drawings, and collages, participants will engage different themes and reflect their view of the world.

Sample Daily Schedule

Our School Breaks Director, Andrew Jannetti is a full-time dance educator with the NYC DOE and the President of the New York State Dance Education Association. His choreography has been presented at venues throughout New York, and he has been teaching and directing programs at BAX since our doors opened in 1991.

Group core staff includes Group Leaders who are experienced early childhood and youth educators with a background in arts facilitation. Counselors are youth in high school, college or recent graduates with a background and early career interest in education and the arts. (Many of our counselors are former BAX students themselves!)

Guest arts specialists are professional artists who are highly experienced teaching artists, many of whom are on BAX’s regular teaching staff.

BAX is proud to have a high return of staff each year and has an excellent staff to child ratio (at least 1:6).

Description

Drop off begins, students engage in fun social games via Zoom.

In their groups (Nano, Mega, and Giga) students participate in structured community-building and movement activities facilitated by their Group Leader & Program Director via Zoom. 

Students participate in a pre-recorded performing arts workshop on their own. (Organized daily as Dance/Movement on Mondays, Theater/Circus on Tuesdays, Tumbling/Acrodance on Wednesdays, and Music/Instruments on Thursdays.)

Students return to Zoom for show and share, community-building, and additional movement activities with the full group.

Depart for the day with a pre-recorded visual arts video to do at their convenience (possible pre-packaged materials shared home). Show/share to take place the following morning with Group Leader.

Detailed Program Daily Schedule

Each morning, participants may be “dropped off” between 9 and 9:30 a.m. to participate in flexible, fun, community-building/ice-breaking activities.

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., they will participate in structured, synchronous arts and movement activities facilitated by the Group Leader & Program Director. This will be followed by an hour of independent, asynchronous, programming with the daily performing arts specialist’s pre-recorded video – giving students the benefit of embodied exercise, flexible screen-time, and a combination of both social & independent time.

Students return at 11:30 a.m. for more live virtual and smaller group breakouts, including a performing arts workshop “show & share” exchange facilitated by the Group Leader & Program Director and more playful activities facilitated by the Group Leader.

At lunchtime, students leave for the day with a pre-recorded visual arts workshop video directing an accessible and inventive arts & craft project that can be done at the family’s convenience (activities will include DIY materials easily found at home as well as electronic resources and possible additional specialty supplies sent home in advance).

Children will have an opportunity to participate in a Visual Arts “show & share” exchange the following morning with the Group Leader & Program Director. Each week will culminate with an open “gallery” slideshow share & virtual community dance for families on Thursdays from 12-12:30 p.m. 

Technology Platforms and Supplies

Each student will need access to an internet connection and device such as a laptop, computer, or tablet.

The Thursday before the start of each program week, families will be given access to a private Google Site which will include all necessary participation details: schedules, secure Zoom meeting links, pre-recorded lesson videos.

All synchronous, group time will take place via Zoom (and require the basic/free Zoom app).

Additional details and technical information will be shared with registered families.

Please note that our Visual Art activities will be based on found objects, common supplies that can be found and re-purposed in the home, as well as downloadable print materials that will be provided to families through Google Site. We will also explore providing families with materials through care packages if/when needed.