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History and Statement of Need

Circle Round the Square, Paper Circle’s intensive summer-arts enrichment program for children in the Nelsonville York City School District (NYCS) serves at-risk youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. According to The State of Poverty in Ohio 2007, NYCS ranks 603 poorest of 612 in the state; nearly 60% of the children and their families in this district live below the national poverty level. Many go hungry.

Inside this once-abandoned Appalachian coal mining town, the schools also suffer. NYCS lacks the resources to include art classes in their elementary and middle school curriculum. Only recently has art been offered as an elective at the high school. Imagine a child 15 years old who has never painted or played with clay. Outside school, art is a luxury our families can’t afford, when food itself is scarce.

To further exacerbate the cultural divide, six years ago abandoned storefronts, low rents and a high aesthetic attracted artists who opened some 20 shops galleries and studios on the historic town square. Though some residents and businesses welcomed the artists, others were alienated. It was simple economics. As galleries and studios replaced empty storefronts, families who lacked experience and means were being pushed even further to the fringes.

This presented Paper Circle with a unique challenge – and responsibility - as part of the burgeoning arts community, to find a way to provide equal access to the arts for all community members, especially the underserved students in the district. In possession of tremendous imagination, spirit and untapped capability, it was and is our intent to provide these children with enrichment opportunities to help them to achieve their fullest potential.

In 2004, Paper Circle elicited support from The Epstein-Teicher Philanthropy, The Sisters of Saint Joseph Charitable Fund, The Ohio Dept. of Development, The Ohio Arts Council, Rocky Boots, along with too-numerous-to-mention additional in-kind donors. Partnering with The Nelsonville-York City Schools, Athens County Children’s Services, The Nelsonville Public Library, local businesses and community members, artist/teachers, Hocking College, The Coffee Cup Restaurant, The First Presbyterian Church, Dominoes Pizza, and community volunteers also too numerous to mention, in July of 2005 Paper Circle’s summer youth arts initiative, Circle Round the Square, was launched.

Provide an intensive, community-based, summer arts enrichment program for the
at-risk children who reside in Ohio’s Nelsonville-York City School District where art is not offered at the elementary and middle school levels.
Nurture relationships between the children and the resident artists on the square and provide the children with experience working inside the studios. In turn, families come to the studios to participate as audience. Families become more familiar with the workings in the galleries when their children share their new experiences when they get home. The community bonds through the common thread of art.

Boost the self-esteem of the participants. Provide a safe space to explore and express feelings through creative exploration. Provide wellness components and enrichment activities to provide more holistic programming.

Create jobs for artists, high school students and community members in an underserved, economically disadvantaged area. In turn, by spending 95% of our program dollars in the community, we stimulate the local economy.

Expand Paper Circle’s reach with innovative, sustainable grass-roots programming. Contribute to the creation and enrichment of community while advancing our mission.
Provide art as the catalyst for change from within. Parents will see their children in a new light of accomplishment. Children will see themselves in a new light by accomplishing. Teachers grow through the accomplisments of collaboration
and from thier experiences in the classroom studios.
Enrich and enliven a community through the arts. Provide an outlet for all members to both work productively toward and contribute to change that benefits all members. Break down barriers and build bridges between factions of community members.
Create a model by which other communities could also integrate, serve and celebrate underserved populations through the arts.