Institute of International Education and a U.S. State Department delegation from Brazil will review innovative ARTreach programs in the Fort Bend County Juvenile Detention Center 
 
"Promoting Minority Participation in the Arts"
The U.S. State Department delegation from Brazil is touring the United States and will be in Houston the week of July 13th.  The delegation is hosted by the Institute of International Education and traveling under the program title "Promoting Minority Participation in the Arts". The delegation is composed of five individuals, each specializing in a different form of visual or performing arts.  During their trip through the U.S., the delegation will discuss the various ways in which art can encourage open communication and promote tolerance within diverse American communities, focusing on people of diverse racial, cultural, ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.  The delegation will also explore public and private sector support for the arts, with particular emphasis on programs for youth.  While in Houston, they have specifically requested an opportunity to visit with ARTreach and experience first-hand what this agency is accomplishing within this arena.
During the delegate’s tour, ARTreach is conducting a series of workshops for Fort Bend County Probation Department that will benefit youth in the juvenile detention center. The project will demonstrate how to collaborate in the creation of hand built/hand-painted public works of art that will be permanently installed as table tops in the picnic area of the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds this fall.  As an ARTreach project the workshops are designed to support juvenile justice objectives focusing on open communication, conflict resolution, team building and completion of tasks.  Facilitated by Terri Bieber, Elizabeth Linder and Chris Gamez, the JDC Staff participating in the ARTreach workshops will be trained in techniques that will aid in the completion of 10 table tops. This project is made possible by ARTreach and a donation by Fort Bend Partnership for Youth.
ARTreach and the Fort Bend County Probation Department welcome the U.S. State Department Delegation from Brazil. For more information please contact Terri Bieber, ARTreach Executive Director at 281-392-5341 or Paul Cummings at the Institute of International Education Tel: 713-621-6300, x19