Mosaic Mania! Breaking Glass, Expanding Minds

Mosaic Mania was started in 2007 as an art outreach project of The Detroit Lakes Community & Cultural Center. It is part of the Historic Holmes Theatre's BTD Community Connections Series. The goal of the project is to promote creativity among youth and showcase rural Minnesota's commitment to the arts. More than 3,500 students in grades 3-6 have taken part in “Mosaic Mania! Breaking Glass, Expanding Minds.” The project teaches students the art of mosaics and gives them a lesson on abstract design, the color wheel, native plants and animals, teamwork, and confidence in individuality. Students make a 5"x5" glass mosaic they keep and work together as a team to create one large class project. The large projects are sold through a silent auction. New to the program this year, monies raised will be split with participating schools. The Detroit Lakes Community & Cultural Center encourages the schools to use their portion to strengthen their arts program. The organization will use the money raised from the silent auctions to support children’s programming at the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center. The DLCCC operates an After School Program in which children participate in hands-on arts and fitness activities. The Historic Holmes Theatre annually presents 4-6 children’s shows attended by thousands of area school children at a reduced rate, as well as provides funding for future outreach projects with area schools. Many rural Minnesota schools have completely cut arts funding at the primary level. This project makes it possible for kids to participate in art at no additional cost to the schools. Research has proven that art is an important part of development for children. Young people who consistently participate in comprehensive, sequential, and rigorous arts programs are: -4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement -3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools -4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair -3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance -4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem We need your help to continue this important and high-demand program. A donation of $100 per class or $10 per student will provide supplies and support to ensure this program remains free to all area schools who wish to participate. Through sponsoring a class, your name will be included in the marketing for project. Your donation also has a greater impact to the area schools, as this year they will receive half of the proceeds raised by the sale of their large mosaic windows. This money will be used to strengthen art programs at the individual schools.