Circle Round the Square, our intensive summer-arts enrichment program, serves students in the Nelsonville-York City School District (NYCSD). One of the poorest counties in Ohio, nearly 60% of the children and their families in this district live at or below the national poverty level. Many go hungry.

Inside this once-abandoned Appalachian coal mining town the schools suffer. Nelsonville-York City School Distict (NYCSD) lacks the resources to include art classes in their elementary and middle school curriculum, K-8. In fact, art has never been offered to students in the district as long as anyone can remember. Only recently have classes been added as an elective at the high school level. Imagine a child 15 years old who has never painted before. Sadly we don't have to. Outside school, art is a luxury our families can’t afford when food itself is scarce.

In 2003, 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, there were as many who were uncomfortable and unfamiliar with the arts. As lively galleries, art walks, and working studios replaced empty storefronts, families who lacked experience and means were being pushed even further to the edges of what was to become, in 2004, a culturally divided community.

This presented Paper Circle with a unique challenge - and responsibility - to find a way to provide equal access to the arts for all community members, especially the under-served 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 July of 2005 Paper Circle's summer youth arts initiative, Circle Round the Square, was launched.

Circle's goals were and are to:

• Provide an intensive, community-based, summer arts enrichment program for the at-risk children who reside in Ohio's NYCSD 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 under-served, 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 too, by accomplishing. Teachers grow through the accomplishments of collaboration and from their experiences in the classroom studios. They are provided with professional development as they learn to teach to ODE state standards.

• 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 under-served populations through the arts.

For the first four years students rotated through classes in studios located on the square. In 2006 and 2007 we added a theater and wellness component to our offerings. Families were invited to attend the annual art opening and theater shows at Stuart's Opera House.

In 2009 and 2010 ( in 2009 as Circle Round the School and Summer Circle) in 2010 in partnership with The Nelsonville York City Schools, our program was held in the new elementary school and Poston Middle school, respectively. NYCSD provided busing, meals, space and administrative assistance. Unfortunately in 2011 the district was no longer able to provide space or assistance for our program, and we returned to our roots on the square. It was only with the resounding support from the community, our partners and familiy members that this was made possible.

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