Left to right: Sara Dorvill, Zach Dorvill and Jerry Dorvill, MACH students who take music lessons, participate in Ailey Camp and Neighborhood Studios Summer Program, model t-shirts with the new Neighborhood Studios logo.
The Music and Arts Center for Humanity (MACH), an award-winning school providing arts enrichment programs to thousands of school-age children in the Greater Bridgeport area for over 30 years, has changed its name to Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County. The announcement was made at MACH's annual gala featuring the Ailey II Dance Company on March 6.
"With Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, we have selected a name that is fun and appealing for our students," said Dr. Donald Rainone, Executive Director/CEO of MACH. "The new name also communicates the seriousness of our educational purpose to the broader community. But while the name has changed, our mission remains the same-to provide arts education for children at risk and those with special needs, with the goal of increasing academic performance and graduation rates and providing a solid foundation for lifelong success."
Program Director Frank Derico noted that "MACH has a lot of equity in the name Neighborhood Studios. It was previously the name of one of our more popular programs, and the new name will now serve as an umbrella for the entire organization."
In 2009, MACH's programs in music, dance, visual arts, theater, creative writing and design served the special needs of more than 1,200 school age children at risk and those with special needs. Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County plans to offer an even more diversified set of programs to an even broader community.
Chairperson Joan Rosenbaum of Trumbull stated, "Our goal with Neighborhood Studios is to reinforce the accessible community-oriented nature of the arts education we provide."
With its new name, Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County will be present on Facebook and Twitter, and will launch an all-new website, www.nstudios.org. In response to requests from instructors, students, parents and its broad base of contributors, much of the organization's communication will now be able to take place online. This new digital footprint will provide Neighborhood Studios with a powerful platform to connect with all of its constituents.
Neighborhood Studios' innovative new logo is a dimensional sphere in which the letters are combined in a variety of shapes, sizes, orientations and colors to reflect the creativity and multiculturalism of the community served by the organization.
A benefit in support of Neighborhood Studio's Ailey Camp is planned for Sunday, May 9, at Massey Auditorium at Greenwich Academy. The Brunswick Blue Notes jazz band will perform in conjunction with dancers from Greenwich Dance Studio. More details will be announced soon.
For more information about Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, 510 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, visit www.nstudios.org or call (203) 366-3300.
About Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County
Neighborhood Studio of Fairfield County (Neighborhood Studios), formerly the Music and Arts Center for Humanity (MACH), provides arts education to children at risk and those with special needs. Its goals are to improve academic performance, increase graduation rates and serve as a catalyst for life-long success. Since its founding in 1977, Neighborhood Studios programs in music, dance, studio and performing arts have taught our students discipline, commitment and independence resulting in higher self-esteem. Neighborhood Studios is based in Bridgeport, CT, and serves over 1,000 children a year throughout the Fairfield County area. Neighborhood Studios is a recipient of the President's Coming Up Taller Award. For more information about Neighborhood Studios, visit www.nstudios.org.
