Children huddle around a small table in a building downtown, tuning their makeshift banjos assembled out of cans, glue and string.
Larry Luttinger envisions this activity as just the start for young musicians in Syracuse.
Luttinger, the executive director of the Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation, imagines local student musicians in a classroom filled with instruments, seated under a green stage lighting ready to perform.
It’s all part of the Foundation for our Future campaign - a $1.2 million initiative that will fund a state-of-the-art hub for class instruction, fully-staged recitals and exhibitions at the nonprofit’s downtown Jazz Central headquarters on East Washington Street.
The expansion will focus on opportunities for urban youth and New Americans, creating similar “creativity classrooms” at the North Side Learning Center, Mercy Works and the Spanish Action League.
Renderings of new spaces proposed for CNY Jazz Central and interactive classroom spaces planned at other Syracuse nonprofits.
“I can tell you that the arts are a long and winding road and most of it is uphill,” Luttinger said as he announced the campaign at the organization’s arts and education center Feb. 25. “We are committed to giving this instruction to kids at no cost."
The five-year fundraising campaign rollout will begin this spring with a smart classroom, artist area, library and hospitality center. The next phase planned for the summer and fall will bring a main theater, stage, box office and more.
Luttinger said the initiative is meant to fill gaps in the arts.
“Syracuse has been steadily losing cultural resources for its urban youth for the last two decades," Luttinger said, pointing to the closure of the Metropolitan School for the Arts, Signature Music, The Mask & Puppet Museum, and the Media Unit.
“It’s been happening gradually and slowly, unnoticed by community leaders,” he continued. "This trend must be reversed, to regain this capacity and bring us alongside other cities. We have to turn this alarming trend around.”
So far, the curriculum includes four to six-week courses on how songs are made and instrument making. Intermediate learners will create experimental compositions and peer groups will make multimedia pieces for recitals. A “Creative Gateway” seminar series will highlight careers in the creative field that can seem unattainable to at-risk youth.
Luttinger said he has witnessed the benefits of arts participation among members of the CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra.
“Arts participation increases grades, graduation rates, SAT scores, cognitive and analytic skills across the board, peer to peer social integration and harmony, and decreases dangerous behaviors,” said Luttinger.
“The arts break down social barriers like no other activity,” he continued. "We will build them toolkits for success, developing not only creative skills, but organizational, leadership, entrepreneurial and social habits that can lead from poverty to prosperity.”
The Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation recently announced its Foundation for our Future campaign - a $1.2 million initiative that will fund a state-of-the-art hub for class instruction, fully-staged recitals and exhibitions at the nonprofit’s downtown Jazz Central headquarters on East Washington Street. A public announcement of the campaign and a hard hat tour took place Tuesday February 25th at Jazz Central. Andrea GuzmanAndrea Guzman
Bill Byrne, who co-chairs the fundraising campaign with his wife Nancy, said he was excited to see the impact on the next generation of young musicians.
“These courses will get more of them involved in the arts at school and make them aware of creative jobs that they can work toward in training programs and higher education,” Byrne said. “This is a great way to increase their chances of success in life.”
A $1.2 million fundraising campaign could bring big changes to the "busiest little theater in Syracuse."
About Jazz Central
What it looks like now: The 2,300-square-foot space houses CNY Jazz’s offices, a box office, music library, and a 63- to 99-seat theater. A practice and performance space, it also hosts theater, comedy, film, folk, and private events throughout the year. The facility provides a professional rehearsal space for the CNY Jazz Orchestra and the CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra.
What is in the works: Jazz Central will serve as a state-of-the-art hub for class instruction, fully-staged recitals and exhibitions. Smart classrooms will be built in partner agencies, including the North Side Learning Center, Mercy Works and the Spanish Action League.
Construction plan: Infrastructure projects will begin this spring with a smart classroom, artist area, library and hospitality center. The next phase planned for the summer and fall will bring a main theater, stage, box office and more.
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CNY Jazz announces $1.2 million campaign to bring music and the arts to city youth - syracuse.com
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