ArtsGroup Partners with Somerset Prep DC to Build Studios
Imagine the sounds of drills, hammering and the swipe of paint rollers on a wall. Sawdust whips through the air and figures with hard hats march through school hallways just weeks before school starts. These are the sounds of a construction of a new studio and classroom waiting to be built to support the eager scholars of Somerset Preparatory Charter School in Washington, DC. Somerset's goal is to build a robust communications and media program that trains up the next wave of digital media artists and experts. Yet, they didn't have all the tools they needed to get there. However, starting this school year, all that will change.
Soon the sounds of hammering and drilling will be replaced by the sounds of student chatter and quick footsteps through the halls. Soon, the remnants of sawdust will be long gone and in its place will be a world-class digital media arts studio, equipped with Mac computer workstations, a TV broadcasting studio, Canon cameras, and an audio recording booth. Soon, the students will settle into their schedules and begin learning digital media arts such as live video broadcasting, photography, and social media marketing.
All of this will be made possible through a partnership with ArtsGroup and Somerset Preparatory Academy Charter Public School. The two organizations have teamed up to build a full broadcasting and digital media studio and classroom. Central to Somerset's approach is to develop scholars who are exposed to college-level curricula and academics to prepare youth to excel once they graduate high school. Their Digital Media Academy allows their scholars to gain hands-on experience to add to their resumes and to begin building their personal portfolios early.
In preparation for the 2017 school year, ArtsGroup will build and configure a studio and classroom for 25 scholars, as well as consult with Somerset Prep to enhance their digital media curriculum, to begin building additional electives in the digital media and communication arts. ArtsGroup will also provide referrals for experienced instructors and provide trainings to staff to build up their capacity to use the equipment and teach the subjects. ArtsGroup staff are beyond excited to support a local school committed to prepare youth who historically have not access to training or equipment to help realize their potential in the arts.
As Yasmin Rice, Digital Media Arts instructor for Somerset Prep, excitedly states: “The future is now at Somerset Prep DC. Digital Media Arts is the future of communication and preparing our scholars for careers in emerging digital media is our mission. Somerset's modernization has provided a state of the art broadcast production studio and resources designed to allow students assume creative, scholarly, and leadership roles that will integrate and inform any other field of study while developing the creative approach that will allow them to stand out. I look forward to watching the future unfold." Please see the rest of the press release for more details.
If you'd like to learn more about ArtsGroup's services, visit our Programs page. If your school is interested in partnering with ArtsGroup to build a broadcasting or music studio, please contact us at info@artsgroup.org.
