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ACES Arts and Culture Program

The ACES Arts and Culture Program will soon be completing its 6th year.  For the last two years with the destructive pandemic raging throughout our world, our ACES students could not experience concerts at Strathmore Music Center, The Kennedy Center, or the brilliance of our Smithsonian Museums, especially our frequent trips to National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

We had to pivot…and felt it so important to reach within our Montgomery College arts scene.  Our program introduced our students to magnificent Visual Arts programs offered here at Montgomery College by creating zoom forums for directors of our programs and guest artists to give their viewpoints on the educational journey ahead for our students, as well as what the arts (and careers) world will look like “post-covid”.

One highlight occurred on October 19, 2021, when our Arts and Culture Program sponsored an energetic roundtable with three visual artist/mentors for our ACES high school students, “So, You Think You Want to Go Into the Visual/Technological Arts?”.  Professor Swanson (Chair, Media Arts & Technologies Department here at MC), Professor Edgar Reyes (Graphic Design Lecturer/Site Coordinator, Salisbury University) and guest artist, David Kepron, AIA (Architect, Artist, Author, Educator, Brand Experience Design Strategist, and Podcast Moderator) were panelists who spoke eloquently and honestly about the educational pathway and possibilities in new careers in the visual arts that those majoring in the visual arts programs at MC and other colleges can aspire to.  Without a doubt, we look forward to sponsoring more of these programs – in person as well as via zoom – that inspire our up-in-coming artists in the near future – here at MC and beyond!

For sure, we are getting stronger now…and healthier…and we look forward to re-vitalizing our Arts and Culture Program and launching our 7th year in September, 2022.  Our overall program mission remains clear – to creatively collaborate and nurture – always reconfirming the value, power, and importance of the arts in our culture, especially in the quickly changing and challenging 21st century!  As all of us know, the arts and artists give us forward momentum to be empathic individuals, a compassionate community, and an inclusive society.

A clear and empowering example of this is watching the visual and performing artists of Ukraine dedicating their lives to defend their freedoms – no matter the danger ahead of them.

Therefore, we felt it was important to highlight those courageous, smart, and passionate artists who have chosen to transfer their extreme talents, discipline, and ability to “reach an audience”, and join the fight for Ukraine.  Below are just a few of the world news articles coming in about those exquisite Ukrainian performing and Visual Artists.

We wish them safety and will keep them in our thoughts during this traumatizing time; we salute their bravery!  As we know, leadership is sometimes thrust upon us…we applaud not only their artistic and fearless leader, President Zelensky, but all Ukrainian artists joining forces to fight for their freedom and country.  Bravi!  Bravissimo!

Our program would simply not exist if it were not for the generous spirit of the performing and visual arts organizations who graciously donated complimentary and/or discounted tickets to our program. We invite you to visit them and experience their expertise and community spirit by supporting their many extraordinary offerings! You will not be disappointed!

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