Kulture Kids, an arts education non-profit 501(c)(3), creates original, interactive arts programs and performances that inspire community, cultural awareness and lifelong learning.
Kulture Kids brings the Arts to you!
History
Kulture Kids was founded by Artistic Director, Robin Pease, in 1999. The organization’s original goal was to use arts and culture to promote E Pluribus Unum: out of many, one. Meaning, the exploration of the many arts and cultures that make up our world open doors to education, understanding, appreciation and unity for all people. With a cadre of over 20 artists, Kulture Kids became known for creating customized programs requested by communities, arts organizations and educators.
A former theatre/dance teacher at Hawken School and Hiram College, Pease approached other educators and began developing programs that addressed the core academic content standards that they sought help in teaching. She created participatory performances, workshops, residencies, and diversity training using drama/theatre, dance, music, visual and literary art, to support arts integration and cultural awareness. These participatory and hands-on activities gave children a chance to learn by doing.
Initially, hired by Coventry School in Cleveland Heights, Pease created performances based on curriculum, featuring the entire K-2 grades. This was followed by large curricular performances at Heights’ Gearity School and Canterbury School. Kulture Kids then began being contracted to create programs for Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland State University’s Summer Institutes as well as for Young Audiences, Playhouse Square’s community and education department, Initiative for Cultural Arts in Education, Project Start-ID, Ohio State Based Collaboratives Initiatives, Diversity Initiatives, Cleveland Orchestra, Cuyahoga County Libraries, Beck Center, Cleveland Play House and many more.
Kulture Kids began touring nationally to New England, New York, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana. The organization has provided programming for The Kennedy Center, Corning Glass Museum, YMCA, Head Start, Arts Education Partnership, Thomas Nelson Community College, Walsh University, Boy and Girl Scouts, American Association For Theatre Education, Norfolk Public Library, Carney Sandoe Diversity Conference, Once Upon A Time Storytelling Conference, International Children’s Games, Cleveland Public Theatre, Contemporary Youth Orchestra, MetroHealth Hospital, Aurora Pow Wow, Improv Olympics just to name a few venues.
This organization has expanded, serving new audiences and creating original works. In a single school year alone, Kulture Kids has provided arts programming to more than 22,000 people across the country. Its Kulture Kid’s audio storybook THE TALKATIVE TURTLE has fans all over the world!
In 2016, Kulture Kids started a community garden at an inner city school. In the first 3 years over 1100 lbs. of free produce has been given to the community. The garden continues to grow, teaching students about plants and feeding the community.
Today, Kulture Kids continues to expand its reach throughout Ohio and across the country. Kulture Kids consistently seeks out new and unique collaborations, creates and customizes original arts-integrated programming for audiences of all ages.