The Flynn Center takes pride in our educational programs—in the schools, in the community, and here at the Center—that engage children, teens, and adults in the artistic process, cultivate appreciation of the performing arts, and make the performing arts a vital and integral part of school and community life. The core strength of these programs is their integration with the Flynn's nationally recognized presenting series.

FlynnArts

Open to curious souls of all ages, our year-round program of classes, camps, and workshops in dance, theater, and music offers a professional arts faculty, small supportive classes, a sequential curriculum balancing process and performance, and links to Flynn performances, visiting artists, and a vital, integrated arts community. College credit is available for some classes.

The Flynn Student Matinee Series

The Flynn Student Matinee Series (SMS) offers high-quality performances that complement school curriculum and illustrate the dynamic relationship between the performing arts and history, literature, and world cultures. The series also includes performances that introduce art forms outside the curriculum. An important resource for teachers, the SMS brings the highest quality performing arts experiences to an average of 43,000 school children from 200-plus schools each year. Teachers, students, and parents can download free comprehensive study guides that help prepare and reflect upon the performances. Prefer to get some outside help? Call upon a Flynn teaching artist to work in your classroom with your students before and/or after the show in a student matinee companion workshop!

Flynn Programs for Educators

The Flynn’s programs for educators inspire and invigorate teachers in variety of ways. Teachers learn new ways to enrich curriculum with drama or movement through “Words Come Alive!” Workshops for students, dynamically demonstrating how arts activities deepen students' understanding of and engagement in literature, social studies, history, or science. After school teacher workshops add to teaching strategies by exploring new techniques for using the performing arts in the classroom (can be tailored to any material). Plus, to offer opportunities for in-depth study, the Flynn partners with Burlington College, the Community College of Vermont, and the graduate education program at Saint Michael's College to co-sponsor several college courses (both undergraduate and graduate) per year. Finally, the Lead Teacher Program links a network of teachers in more than 100 schools around the state with the Flynn's education programs and services.

Vermont Young Playwrights Project

Since 1995, when Dana Yeaton and Vermont Stage initiated the Vermont Young Playwrights Project, over 4000 participating students have taken a stab at what is truly a challenging task—writing a play for the stage. Professional actors and directors have brought over 300 of those plays to life over the years, many of them first efforts by the young playwrights. The results are sometimes funny, sometimes moving, often thought-provoking and always surprising.

This past year, 2009, marked a new chapter for the Project, as the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and Vermont Stage Company joined forces to take the program to new heights. Drawing on both organizations' strengths (the Flynn's expert arts educators and Vermont Stage's expert directors and performers) led to an unparalleled VYPP experience for students and teachers.

The Flynn and Vermont Stage share the belief that every young person has something important to say. We look forward to continuing to open our ears, minds, and hearts to these brave young writers! Download a flyer for more information.

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