Foreland Youth Sponsorships in Collaboration with Cone Zero Ceramics

Foreland is thrilled to announce Foreland Youth Sponsorships, the organization’s first initiative of its kind focused on engaging youth in the arts through direct charitable support for arts educators. Funded by Foreland and managed by Cone Zero Ceramics, the ceramics school and studio in Catskill, New York, the program will directly cover both class and material costs for six Cone Zero students per year and commence this April with the first two awardees.

Against the backdrop of growing budget cuts for arts education across the country, the new initiative aims to reaffirm the importance of access to visual art and arts education. Foreland will provide financial sponsorships to Cone Zero Ceramics, who will field and select student applicant requests. Six students annually (two per semester) will each be awarded a semester-long package of classes and dedicated studio time with the skilled teachers at Cone Zero Ceramics. The two initial student recipients were awarded the sponsorship via Cone Zero Ceramics, with the guidance of Catskill Middle School arts educator Carli Gazoorian, and may have the opportunity to showcase their work.

These sponsorships underscore Foreland’s mission to support community initiatives and continue finding new pathways to increase accessibility to art-making for the Catskill community, particularly as access and funding for youth arts education continues to diminish nationwide.

All regional youths are eligible for the ongoing award during both school semesters and summer sessions. This is the first direct sponsorship Foreland has announced, and the first collaboration between Foreland and Cone Zero Ceramics. More details regarding this and other youth programs, including programming in support of youth arts initiatives, will be announced in the coming months.

To learn more about the Foreland Youth Sponsorships with Cone Zero Ceramics, reach out to studio@conezeroceramics.com.

If you lead a youth organization and would like to explore opportunities for your members, please reach out to community@forelandcatskill.com .

CARLI GAZOORIAN has been an art teacher at the Catskill Central School Districts since 2005 and has spent most of that time in Catskill Middle School. She draws inspiration from her students on a daily basis and loves sharing the art-making experience with them. Her classroom is choice-based; students are in control of their art-making process and students are provided many choices in medium, as well as subject.

FORELAND is a contemporary arts campus conceived of by and for artists. Situated at the base of the Catskill Mountains and comprising three thoughtfully-renovated historic factory buildings, the 85,000 square foot development provides architecturally-considered studio and exhibition spaces, a cooperative workspace, food and beverage programs, private event rentals, and more. On a seasonal basis, Foreland produces its own robust program of contemporary art exhibitions and special events that engages the broader public, in addition to hosting and collaborating with internationally renowned partners, artists and institutions.