Singing and dancing children from the Reaching for the Arts program had local politicians cheering at Verdi Square in Manhattan recently, but beneath the melodies and smiles, the Black woman-led nonprofit is struggling to stay financially in tune.
On March 28, children of various ages, genders, and races from five schools were united by one beat: honoring women who have contributed to the city’s arts and culture.
Sharon Daly-Johnson, founder and director emerita of Reaching for the Arts, spearheaded the exhibition in collaboration with the Broadway Mall Association. The event, part of a broader campaign to highlight the role of arts in public spaces, drew roughly 50 spectators to Verdi Square.
“It’s so inspiring to see them do a program for Women’s History Month,” said Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, who represents the Upper West Side and parts of Hell’s Kitchen. “I think it’s the first time that’s been done, and that just shows the Broadway Malls can be an integral part of community life. It’s not just making sure the malls look beautiful during the holiday season. We have an event here to show the culture and the other art installations that are located along the mall. It’s the biggest part of our life, so I’m happy to be here to celebrate the 191 Choir and the singers and the school, and all of you.”
Councilwoman Gale Brewer also made an appearance, joining Rosenthal in her support for the event as the ongoing struggle for arts education funding continues.
For many in the crowd, the performance was a heartening celebration of local talent. The allure of the children’s voices and the female-dominated energy of their dancing was engrossing.
Erica Raposo, mother of Alyssia, who enthralled onlookers with her solo performance, said that Reaching for the Arts has nurtured her daughter’s natural talent: a voice powerful enough to rise above the heavy traffic of the busy 73rd Street station.
“Alyssia’s been singing since she was really, really small, but she’s never had any actual formal training,” Erica said. “She’s been singing with the Reaching for the Arts Choir for about two years now.”
Gail Collymore-Bey watched with similar pride as her granddaughter Ria took the stage. Although new to the Reaching for the Arts Choir, Ria’s enthusiasm was palpable.
“She just started school at PS180 in February, and she’s been doing the choir, I would say maybe like three, four weeks now, maybe a month,” Collymore-Bey said. “She’s got a beautiful voice. She’s got a very cute voice.”
When asked about Ria’s future in the arts, Collymore-Bey smiled and let her granddaughter answer for herself. “Singer,” Ria responded without hesitation.
Accompanying her was Ria’s great-great-grandmother, a testament to the strong family support behind these young performers.
After the performance, the children celebrated their success with a Dunkin’ Donuts treat. Yet, while the children’s joy over hot cocoa and Munchkins was evident, Johnson’s ambivalent sense of bittersweet accomplishment left a lingering question about funds.
Serving the underserved for a decade
Founded in 2015, Reaching for the Arts will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. Johnson has dedicated herself to helping students, especially those from underserved communities, gain access to opportunities in the performing and visual arts, paving pathways to prestigious schools like LaGuardia High School.
“We got them into performing arts high schools automatically,” Johnson said.
For children who live for music, dance, and performance, though, affording private lessons and career-building opportunities is often out of reach. This is especially true for those marginalized by their circumstances, which is why Johnson is committed to providing a place where they can thrive.
“We work with as many students as possible, mostly focusing on students of color because they don’t have the ability to get the lessons — the private lessons — to go into these performing arts high schools or careers,” Johnson said.
Brewer and Rosenthal both spoke to the significance of the event and offered their support for arts education amid ongoing funding challenges.
As the Amsterdam News previously reported, only 3% of the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) budget is allocated to arts education. The terms and conditions passed by the City Council last year revealed that, between 2020–2023, one in five NYC public schools lacked a certified arts teacher.
“I’m here, just like everyone else, to say that it’s wonderful to have a community. Thank you, Broadway Malls, because you make a community, not just with the horticulture up and down Broadway Avenue, but also by bringing us all together,” Brewer said. “If we don’t have arts in New York, we don’t have New York City. [The] arts are so important. Arts education is important because these young people will be the audiences of the future.
“I want to say it’s almost the end of Women’s History Month, but it’s the beginning of budget season in the City Council and the state legislature … Make sure that you tell your elected officials [to] support Broadway Malls and the arts.”
The road to securing funding has been anything but smooth. Johnson’s frustration, visible by the tears in her eyes, stemmed from delayed grant funds going back years, making it difficult for Reaching for the Arts to continue its work.
“Well, it’s interesting you say that, because we write a grant every year, and we’ve already gotten the grant through Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal … I don’t mean to sound political, but after Gale Brewer took over, we haven’t received our grant money at all. We’re missing $40,000 in grant money. It’s just unbelievable how much … I’m surprised we’re still surviving because we haven’t seen that grant money in years. We’ve apparently (gotten) our $20,000 grant this year, but we still haven’t seen that, either,” Johnson said.