© Rising City Arts

MISSION

RISING CITY ARTS is a Queens, New York based Theater Arts in Education organization dedicated to providing youth of all ages with alternative educational strategies through artistic expression.

Our mission is to help students develop a healthy relationship to self, others and nature.  With our uniquely designed theatrical programs, we enhance a child’s ability to peacefully solve problems, make informed choices, collaborate effectively with others and appreciate the importance of creative play.

HISTORY

RISING CITY ARTS was born in 2010 out of our true enthusiasm and dedication to Theater Arts in Education and the magical ability that the performing arts have to change the way a child solves problems, thinks creatively and  views the world and his future with renewed hope.

Rising City Arts is comprised of some of New York’s finest Teaching Artists - all professionals in our fields of Acting, Directing, Playwrighting, Designing and Creative Thinking.

We love the diversity and electric energy of our Queens community and are thrilled to share our passion for the theater with over 600 children of all ages.

We believe that now, more than ever, it is the time to put down the text messaging, turn off the television, cut back on the YouTube and video games in order to get together with our peers for some honest-to-goodness fun arts collaboration.  When we engage in theater arts, we look into each other’s eyes; listen, and connect emotionally, intellectually and spiritually with ourselves and others.

The structure of theater-making inherently teaches discipline, but kids also learn to appreciate and enjoy themselves as creative beings, important and productive members of a group of peers and leaders with multi-dimensional thinking.  They gain self respect so they may find their future and the futures of their children to be bright, secure and happy.

We would like to offer such gratitude to the wonderful Public School and Community Organization Administrators who embrace our theatre programming, the gifted Teaching Artists who share their passion and talent and, most of all, the Kids who take risks with us.

It is your laughter, thoughtfulness, insight and spunk that keeps us inspired to reach new heights each year.

We look forward to seeing you in the classroom and on the stage.  “Breaking Legs” all across Queens!

Thank you,

Dina Comolli, Executive Director and The Rising City Arts Team

WHAT WE DO

RISING CITY ARTS offers theater arts residencies such as In-School Collaborations, After-School Programs, Workshops and Special Projects to youth of all ages in the schools and community organizations of Queens.  Our programs aim to be the motivation behind positive change and growth for this unique and diverse community of children with whom we work.

WE HELP STUDENTS

1. •Improve PROBLEM-SOLVING abilities
   

2. •Develop EMPATHY
   

3. •Increase creative SELF-EXPRESSION
   

4. •Learn DISCIPLINE
   

5. •COLLABORATE peacefully with OTHERS
   

6. •Boost his or her ability to FOCUS on a task
   

7. •LAUGH and have FUN
   

8. •Fortify his or her ATTENTION TO DETAIL
   

9. •Enhance SELF-AWARENESS
   

10. •Build BRAIN FUNCTIONING
    

11. •Strengthen CRITICAL & ACADEMIC SKILLS in reading, language & math