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The Current

Upstream Arts News

September 2014

Welcome, New Subscribers!

We hope you'll enjoy this monthly update on our work, events, ways to get involved, and more. We only include highlights here, so be sure to visit our website to learn more about our multidisciplinary arts programs for people with disabilities at every stage of life.

Join the Conversation

This past spring, Upstream Arts launched the disability is not a four-letter word campaign to generate artistic reflection and public conversation about stigma associated with disability.

Starting this month, we'll share a video or article related to the dialogue here in this column. We invite you to respond by sharing thoughts via email, our blog, Facebook, Twitter, or in any creative form you like!

At present, we're a little obsessed with Stella Young's TED Talk: "I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much." Consider taking 10 minutes to watch it now - then let us know what you think!

Visit our website to learn more and check out our growing archive of resources.

Artists Around Town

Our Teaching Artists and Staff are involved in a wide range of professional projects outside of their work with Upstream Arts. Right now, it's theater galore, with several new shows and an improv troupe! Click here to learn more.

Dear Friend,

Happy September, and welcome to a brand new edition of the Upstream Arts e-newsletter! We're excited to be experimenting with a new email system for sharing our updates with you. We are still learning our way around, so thanks in advance for your patience as we make the transition.

As ever, we're so grateful for the enthusiasm, energy, and generosity of our community. Thanks for all that you do!

Julie, Matt, Bree, and everyone at Upstream Arts

The Art of Me

TOMORROW (Friday, September 19), don't miss The Art of Me at Midwest Special Services - Oakdale Center! This FREE performance has been created collaboratively by Upstream Arts teaching artists and participants from the MSS locations in both Oakdale Center and St. Paul. The show starts at 6pm sharp, so beat the rush hour traffic and get ready to, as one of our participants put it, "Shake your booty, if you please." Click here to read more about The Art of Me, including other performances, on the Upstream Arts blog.

The Art of Risk

"One of the greatest lessons I have learned as a teaching artist for Upstream Arts is the learning opportunity presented in taking safe risks. Safe risks come in all shapes and sizes depending on the person, but inside they all feel as big as the Grand Canyon. We all have our Grand Canyons to cross. For me this fall, my risk to take is literally the Grand Canyon." Our Teaching Artist and Administrative Associate Lindsey Samples is taking a big risk on October 12 - and supporting Upstream Arts in the process! Click here to learn more about her adventure and how you can be part of it.

Gratitude + The Work Ahead

THANK YOU Allison Cacich, Katharine Carey, Tracey and John Carey, Lindsay Clark, Jessica Finney, Marilyn Mounger, Lindsey Samples, Nancy and Steve Waters, Nicole and Stu Waters, and our anonymous donor for your gifts this month! We're also hugely grateful to the Minnesota State Arts Board for awarding Upstream Arts with a generous Arts Learning Grant to support our residencies in Minneapolis Public Schools.

The photo above shows our teaching artist Lindsey Samples - of the aforementioned Grand Canyon adventure - with Upstream Arts participant Kenisha, rehearsing for tomorrow's show at MSS Oakdale Center. Lindsey describes Kenisha as a "fantastic actor" who's "always encouraging others."

Did you know it costs $39/week to bring Upstream Arts to one participant like Kenisha?

Our current funding gap is $94,580. That's how much it will take to sustain our work through the end of our fiscal year on June 30, 2015.

Through her Grand Canyon adventure, Lindsey has a goal of raising $3,000 for Upstream Arts by October 12, so that more people like Kenisha can have access to high-quality arts learning experiences. Can you chip in $39 today? Click here to make a quick, secure contribution on GiveMN.org.

We're grateful for your partnership! Have a beautiful September.

Upstream Arts | 3501 Chicago Ave S | Minneapolis, MN 55407 | 612.331.4584

www.upstreamarts.org

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3501 Chicago Ave S
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