MCA, Riverway announce partnership

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) and Riverway Learning Community have formed an arts education partnership for the 2011-2012 academic year.

MCA will be providing dance and music programming through a series of residency workshops for primary and secondary students from Riverway. The workshops will be held in October and December 2011 and February and April 2012, and will culminate in a special Saturday school demonstration for parents on April 14, 2012 at MCA’s Valencia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St., Winona.

“The faculty and staff at MCA are excited to work with the Riverway students during the school day, said Christine Martin, MCA managing director. “Arts education is such an important part of student development and we are excited to provide these residencies to compliment the arts education the students receive at school,” she added.

Laurie Krause, Riverway director said, “Our partnership with MCA offers Riverway the opportunity to expand and enhance our arts program at a time when many schools, unfortunately, are cutting the arts. We are very excited that every Riverway student will experience these residency workshops that will enrich their knowledge and appreciation for the arts.”

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, a non-profit 501c3 organization, exists to provide quality arts education and performance by nurturing and encouraging artistic expression in children and adults. Its service to the community ranges from recreational to pre-professional performing arts curriculum and programming designed to provide physical and aesthetic benefits, heightened self-respect, discipline and confidence. MCA is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Riverway Learning Community, located at 115 Iowa St. in Minnesota City, is a Minnesota public charter school that provides free Montessori education for students in grades K-6, and project-based education for students in grades 7-12. Riverway, established in 2000 and authorized by Audubon Center of the North Woods, serves 100 students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and is committed to the foundation of a more hopeful and enlightened future by the development of an environment that nurtures the growth of mind, body and spirit, both as individuals and as members of the larger community.

For more information about the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org or call (507) 453-5500. For more information about Riverway Learning Community call (507) 689-2844.