In early June, several Arizona arts and cultural partners, including Ballet Arizona, came together to respond to growing concerns about how schools, arts organizations, and cultural institutions will continue to serve students and educators in the time of COVID-19. The group, convened by Oonagh Boppart, one of Arizona’s philanthropic arts and cultural supporters, decided to pen an open letter to the school community as a show of solidarity and support and a reminder of the power of partnership and collaboration.
For years, Arizona’s Arts & Cultural Sector has provided much-needed support to students, educators, and families in the way of programs, resources, and experiences like field-trips, performances, and residencies. As Arizona prepares for schools to re-open and for students to re-integrate into the classroom, arts and cultural institutions will be ready to adapt and support these endeavors. With virtual programs, content, and experiences, students will still be able to engage with the arts and culture in a meaningful and intentional way.
To learn more about the virtual programs, content, and experiences that each organization will offer, please reach out to the individual Education Directors listed on the letter below.
Click to read the “Open Letter from Arts & Cultural Education Directors”
Alexandra Papazian is Ballet Arizona’s Education & Community Engagement Manager. Since joining the company in 2018, she has brought structure, quality, and vision to the company’s education and community initiatives. As a nonprofit arts professional, she has worked with a diverse group of organizations to establish partnerships and create sustainable programming that serve the greater good. She believes that the success of future generations is dependent upon the integration of arts and culture in existing educational and business models because of the rich, contextual learning experiences they can provide. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business with a Concentration in Communication from Arizona State University. She is also a trained dancer and received her professional dance training from The School of Ballet Arizona, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Butler University.
