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The Music and Arts Center for
Humanity, better known as MACH, had an exciting surprise for
the capacity audience attending its March 6th
gala at the Westport Country Playhouse. Before (after) the
performance by the Ailey II Dance Company, a short film was
shown to highlight the many activities and programs provided
by MACH. Then came the announcement that the 30-year old
organization is changing its name to Neighborhood Studios of
Fairfield County.
"We are thrilled to announce
our new name,” said Chairperson Joan Rosenbaum. “Our goal
with Neighborhood Studios is to reinforce the accessible
community-oriented nature of the arts education we provide."
Program Director Frank Derico noted that "MACH has a lot of
equity in the name Neighborhood Studios. It is currently
the name of one of our more popular programs, and the new
name will now serve as an umbrella for the entire
organization.”
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"With Neighborhood Studios of
Fairfield County, we have selected a name that is fun and
appealing for our students,” added Dr. Donald Rainone,
Executive Director/CEO of MACH. “The new name also
communicates the seriousness of our educational purpose to
the broader community. But while the name has changed, our
mission remains the same—to provide arts education for
children at risk and those with special needs, with the goal
of increasing academic performance and graduation rates and
providing a solid foundation for lifelong success."
In addition to its new name,
Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County will be present on
Facebook and Twitter and will be launching an all-new
website. In response to requests from instructors, students,
parents and its broad base of contributors, much of the
organization’s communication will now be able to take place
online. This new digital footprint will provide
Neighborhood Studios with a powerful platform to connect
with all of its constituents. There will also be an
innovative new Neighborhood Studios logo—a three-dimensional
sphere in which the letters are combined in a variety of
shapes, sizes, orientations and colors to reflect the
creativity and multiculturalism of the community served by
the organization.
Over the course of 30 years,
MACH evolved into an award-winning, comprehensive school
providing arts enrichment programs to thousands of
school-age children in the Greater Bridgeport area. In 2009
these programs in music, dance, visual arts, theater,
creative writing and design served the special needs of more
than 1,200 young people—some neglected and under-served,
others gifted and talented. Neighborhood Studios of
Fairfield County plans to offer an even more diversified set
of programs to an even broader community. |
