Mission Statement
CitiArts, Inc. is a community of peers who value creativity and scholarship. Our community believes that the quality of life is best enriched and enhanced through art. To create this community, CitiArts seeks to infuse the creative arts into the daily lives of all people. The population will be exposed to the greatest works of human expression across diverse cultures and throughout the ages.
CitiArts seeks to provide arts programming to underserved populations, including children, the elderly and inner-city residents. CitiArts also seeks to provide exposure and gainful employment to area artists. CitiArts will develop and create programs to service these constituents while, at the same time, supporting the efforts of existing artists and agencies.
The educational programs of the CitiArts program are founded on the belief that all people possess unique gifts and talents that need to be identified, valued, nurtured, and rewarded. The classes run by CitiArts will occupy a full and rich arts program. Classes will be taught by certified teachers and/or professional artists in specific creative arts disciplines.
History of the Theatre
When the State Dept. of Education denied the daVinci Middle School application as a charter school, a key component of the CitiArts vision was lacking. A revised application was submitted in 2003, and this was denied as well. CitiArts did succeed in nurturing its four performing arts companies.
From 1996 to 2003, CitiArts produced two dance concerts per year. In 2003, “Imagine This” featured the work of the CitiArts Youth Dance Ensemble for two performances at the Hoffman Auditorium on the campus of Saint Joseph College. “Mood Swings” presented the work of students at the Stafford Academy of Dance for two performances at Stafford High School. The two productions provided work for 16 artists and theatre technicians.
In 2004-05, CitiArts produced three dance concerts and one theatre production, attended by a total of 2325 people. “Blessings” featured the work of the CitiArts Youth Dance Ensemble for two performances at the Hoffman Auditorium on the campus of Saint Joseph College. “Café Danse” presented the work of students at the Stafford Academy of Dance for two performances at Stafford High School. As its premiere production, CitiArts Theatre for Young Audiences (CitiArts TYA) presented the musical The Wiz for three performances July. Finally, Figments Dance Ensemble performed its first annual concert, called “Imagination Comes to Life!” also at the Hoffman Auditorium. The four productions provided work for 22 artists and theatre technicians.
In 2005-06, CitiArts produced two dance concerts and one theatre production, attended by a total of 1785 people. “Flights of Fancy” featured the work of the CitiArts Youth Dance Ensemble for two performances at the Hoffman Auditorium on the campus of Saint Joseph College. “Dancing Through Time” presented the work of students at the Stafford Academy of Dance for two performances at Stafford High School. As its premiere production, CitiArts Theatre for Young Audiences (CitiArts TYA) presented Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for three performances at Coventry High School. The three productions provided work for 17 artists and theatre technicians.
In 2007, the production companies were spun off as independent entities. Two of the companies are still in operation today: Stafford Academy of Dance and the Figments Youth Dance Ensemble (formerly the CitiArts Youth Dance Ensemble.) The corporation was dissolved in 2008.
