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SCCL Chairperson: Winde O. Scott 

 

Linking Art Through Transformative Programming

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The Links support of the arts can be traced to our cultured co-founder Margaret Roselle Hawkins. Her innate artistic talent, discovered at a young age, earned her a four-year scholarship to the Women’s School of Design, later known as the Moore Institute of Art. Her passion for creative expression later led to her appointment as an art teacher, and helped give root to the establishment of The Arts facet in 1964 at the 14th National Assembly.

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Throughout the nation today, Links chapters partner with museums, symphonies, arts councils, educational institutes and corporations in order to support art programs, especially where there is a focus on artists of color. Links are creating and supporting opportunities for educating minority youth in the arts and presenting and supporting performances by youth and accomplished professional artists in a diversity of disciplines.

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The GOAL of The Arts facet is to increase and expand art activity. We recognize how art is an important foundation to good mental health and can foster healthy connections by Building A Healthy Legacy: Our Prescription for the Future. Our programming includes arts integration within our chapters and partnerships with like minded organizations, sowing the seed of creativity deeper in our community. The following are the programmatic interests for The Arts.

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Signature Arts Program: Classics Through the Ages

 

Adopted as the signature program of The Arts facet at the 2008 National Assembly, Classics Through the Ages focuses on increasing the interest, knowledge and participation of African-American youth in the classical arts. This exciting initiative seeks to afford exemplary student artists opportunities to hone their talents and skills, and earn recognition and support for their educational and career pursuits.

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Classics Through the Ages is an innovative dual mentoring program where chapters, in conjunction with artistic partners, mentor promising student artists, who in turn mentor their peers. A key to program success is the development of artistic and community partnerships, which optimize impact for promising students in a selected arts discipline (e.g., visual arts, performing arts or humanities). Artistic partners provide students with formal training, performance or exhibition opportunities, and an annual master class led by a professional artist in the area of interest. In return the student artists lead interactive learning sessions for selected peers less familiar with the chosen arts discipline. Community youth see the passion student artists have, sparking the potential of art in their lives.

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Chapters provide further support by funding advanced training classes and workshops, donating supplies, updating equipment, and more. Internships or scholarships can be awarded to expand the student artists’ learning experiences. Chapter sponsorship of student artists carries over from year to year until they graduate from high school.

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National Poster Art Competition: Healthy, Energetic, Active Lifestyles Matter-Make Health a Habit!

 

The National Poster Art Competition was created in 1995 in conjunction with The Links, Incorporated’s National Walk-a-Thon. The theme traditionally includes health related themes sought to depict healthy, energetic, active lifestyles. The 2018’s  theme broaden the health focus by adopting the theme Our Vision, Our Future: Healthy and Happy Communities. The National Poster Art Competition runs biennially from October through June, commencing in uneven years. Chapters conduct their own contests to determine winners in each of four age categories between December and March.

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The contest is divided into four grade categories:

Category I:Grades 1-3

Category II:Grades 4-6

Category III:Grades 7-9

Category IV:Grades 10-12

 

In April and May, a public online contest is run where supporters can vote for submitted chapters entries.  A panel of seven national judges from the arts will vote on the finalists in May from the public voting period. Winners from each category are announced and their work displayed at the National Assembly.

Partner in The Arts: The Sphinx Organization

The Detroit-based Sphinx Organization is a leading national arts and youth development organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Sphinx works to create positive change in the arts field and in communities across the country through a variety of programs organized into four main principles – Education and Access, Artist Development, Performing Artists, and Arts Leadership. Sphinx reaches over 85,000 students through its programs and over 2 million in live and broadcast audiences.

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