Who?
Ballet Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus and Hawaii Youth Symphony have come together to propose the development of a Hawaii Arts Center for Youth (HACY). This Center would co-locate the offices, classroom and rehearsal space of the three performing arts organizations into one facility, a home. Each group represents a key segment of the performing arts, directly educates youth in its respective art form, and has a common goal of using the performing arts to contribute to the positive growth and development of our young people. Through direct programs and services such as workshops and classes and indirect programs such as performances and outreach educational programs for the community, these three organizations directly serve more than 1,100 students annually and more than 31,000 children, youth, families and seniors through performances each year.

Why?
Each of the organizations currently leases space in urban Honolulu, and have all been forced to relocate many times. As affordable rental space for the performing arts becomes increasingly scarce, the organizations have had to determine whether or not they have the resources to build a facility in an environment where construction costs have risen to levels unattainable for most small non profits. The three organizations recognized that, by combining resources, they could construct a facility that would benefit all the students whom they serve. By co-locating offices, rehearsal and classroom space, each organization would save operating dollars currently being spent on rent and realize cost-savings through shared business practices. These dollars would be reinvested into programs that serve more children and youth in the community.

What?
HACY is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, as are the three organizations which it is supporting. HACY is in the midst of searching for an appropriate location for the center. Space studies have been completed among the organizations to optimize space and usage of the facility.

The Vision
Hawaii Arts Center for Youth would be a home for performing arts serving Hawaii’s youth from age five through adulthood. It would be a national model for arts education, offering a full spectrum of training and opening the door for innovative collaborations among different levels of the education continuum. HACY would serve as a training facility for students and arts educators, and stand as an anchor for the performing arts community. It would also be a home for three youth organizations that have collectively given our state more than 120 years of education and enrichment in the performing arts.

If you share our vision for our young people, please call us to see how you can help build a future for the arts in Hawaii. Mahalo.

More Information
Selena Ching: (808) 941-9706 , sching@HiYouthSymphony.org, 1110 University Ave., #200, Honolulu, HI 96826