A $2,125 Community Outreach grant from St. Mary’s Bank, the nation’s first credit union, will fund an afterschool art program conducted by the Currier Museum Art Center.
 
The grant to Inti Academy will create a four-week program in January in partnership with the Currier Art Center's outreach program called ArtWorks! in Schools, which serves a diverse population of students in an afterschool capacity. The Art Center’s Director, Bruce McColl said “Art makes a difference in children’s lives—giving them a sense of connectedness to and well-being in their world, through the vehicle of creative hands-on activities. We are inspired by the children at Inti Academy, and hope that we can make their lives better through art.”
 
The Inti Academy program is aimed at children living in Manchester’s inner city, said Fred Harwood, Vice President at Inti Academy. “These children are in desperate need of quality educational and recreational opportunities after school. They are primarily from refugee or immigrant families, and most live below the poverty line.”
 
Inti Academy of Manchester was founded as a soccer academy to serve the city’s underprivileged youth, but also offers afterschool academic programs incorporating enrichment activities, cultural activities, field trips, and more.
 
The art program’s impact has been inspiring, Harwood explained. “Art fosters imagination, intellectual development, academic achievement, and self-esteem. The children are learning how to make art, but also studying great artists and enjoying docent tours at the museum.”

In preparation for each art class, the students read about the featured artists and write biographies, combining art with reading and writing, critical needs for English-language learners.
“Art is about inspiration, and providing an outlet for imagination,” said Tom Champagne, St. Mary’s Bank Director of Community Outreach. “These young artists can discover hidden talents and develop a unique sense of self that comes from artistic expression. We’re pleased to provide these funds to make programs like this possible.”