This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
Bucking a national trend to scale back arts education in schools, Nueva Esperanza Charter High School – backed financially by its founding community organization Nueva Esperanza Inc. – is investing $2 million to expand current arts facilities at the school in Hunting Park by 20,000 square feet. The project will add on a ceramics room, a darkroom, a visual arts room, an auditorium, a film media room, and an art gallery to the 600-student school.
With dedicated space for arts education, the charter high school plans to launch an arts academy that will offer courses in film, choral music, instrumental music, theater, visual arts, and dance starting in Fall 2007. The school’s operating budget will also be funding new teachers to staff its art expansion.
“It’s about creating opportunities for the students of this community,” said Nueva’s principal David Rossi.