Driven by a passion to reach students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the great works of music, dance and theatre the Sandler Center has to offer, the Sandler Center Foundation developed an innovative program entitled “ACCESS the ARTS” to reach the at-risk and underserved students in Title 1 schools throughout Hampton Roads. The funding provided by this program is used to assist Title 1 schools in our local region with the costs associated with arts education programming at the Sandler Center. In Virginia Beach alone, there are sixteen Title 1 schools that have at least 40% of their student population receiving reduced lunches and living in low-income conditions. In some schools, this number is as high as 80%.

In its first year, the ACCESS the ARTS program provided funding for 1,937 elementary-aged students (grades K-5) to attend matinee education programs at the Sandler Center. This is a 600% increase over the previous year’s Title 1 schools participation during which the program was not in place. In the program’s inaugural season, the application process was only open to Virginia Beach Public Schools. As we enter our second year, the Sandler Center Foundation has extended the program’s reach and has invited underserved children from Title 1 public schools in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth to apply for the ACCESS the ARTS program. We aim to bring in 4,000 underserved children through our performance hall doors in the 2011-2012 season. Greater funding will allow us to do just that. We would be honored to add you as a contributor to this special program.