Free For Schools Project - Education Residencies
Coinciding with Wadaiko Tokara’s 10th Anniversary World Tour called “Kazakoshi (Mountain Wind)”, the group is creating an education outreach program in schools which have little to no budget for the arts.
Starting in Japan, and continuing through India, North America and Europe, Wadaiko Tokara is working hard to raise funding to donate free educational and cultural performances to as many schools as we can possibly reach in the area, beginning in early spring of 2014, as we will be close to these areas during this time. Even in these countries, many schools run on extremely tight budgets and are very often unable to afford even a small stipend for the arts.
For every $600 raised, Tokara will be able to donate free to a school, a one-hour educational residency, complete with performance, lecture demonstration and hands-on participation for students and teachers.
Tokara will be working very hard to include up to 200 free performances for schools in the year 2014. We are not asking for donations, instead we are working towards the goal to sell 10,000 photo booklets of our "Kazakoshi" World Tour. Not only photos of the group while on tour, but beautiful images of the cities, landscapes, and rural areas to which we travel while on tour. With your help, we are sure to create success which will help to create not just a spark, but a roaring fire of interest in cultural education about music and Japan, through the uniquely exciting performance of Wadaiko Tokara.
What will your purchase cover?
100% of your purchase will go toward covering the necessary expenses of such a massive undertaking in bringing free performances to schools around the world. These include:
- Van rental for transporting drums
- Vehicle rental/flights/train for members transportation
- Accommodation between school performances
- Equipment rental (drums and stands)
What do the schools receive from your purchase?
Each school receives up to one 1 hour educational residency which includes:
- Up to four performances pieces
- Demonstration of drums and Japanese culture/language (outside of Japan). In Japan schools, students also learn about languages and cultures from countries visited during international tours.
- Both Students and Teachers will have a chance to play the drums.
- Educational residency can be held at the school grounds, thereby allowing for intimate interaction with performers, as well as eliminating the work involved in bringing students to outside theaters.
** Even Businesses can help **
Are you a business that really believes in what we do and would like to become a part of this project? We offer a special award which entitles your business name on all media (posters, flyers, programs, etc.) that is published in relation to Wadaiko Tokara's performances and tours.
- applies to self-produced concerts throughout Tokara's 10th Anniversary World Tour.
- 10th Anniversary Tour is one year from January 1 - December 31, 2014.
** Please note: Tokara reserves the right to make sure that the potential sponsors marketing views are in-line with the spirit of Tokara and this project. If unsure, please feel free to contact us.
"Tokara is a professional group. Why are you creating this campaign?"
While it is true that Tokara tours throughout the world giving performances and workshops, all of this is done from out-of-pocket expenses. We are unable to apply for most grants in western countries as we are based and live in Japan, and Japan has very little to no grant opportunities for arts based or education-through-arts based organizations.
While we struggle to create out-of-pocket budgets to tour, we feel that this struggle is to positive end with education and cultural exchange in many countries. The experience is often unique via our group of members from many different countries, all of whom live in Japan on a permanent basis and train in the vigorous Tokara style.
However, to create projects such as this, it is necessary to seek funding at a level which is beyond our financial ability.
From Wadaiko Tokara Artistic Director - Art Lee
"Since I started Tokara 10 years ago, school performances are the one type of event where I really feel that I am making a difference. The students see a professional taiko group that consists of not only Japanese people, but of people from all over the world. They learn that authenticity is not about what you look like, but authenticity is achieved through giving more than 100% of spirit, determination and hard work to learn and understand, while sweeping aside selfish pride, to achieve the highest level regardless of ethnicity.
The students understand this, often more than adults, and they are very honest in their responses and what they say. I love such honesty, and I love that I have the chance to communicate to students around the world through this type of music.
We truly believe that this project can become an exciting experience for performers, contributors, and educators but most of all for the students!"
You will receive a letter of acknowledgment for your contributions promptly.
Thank you for your continued support.
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