“We’ve been the best kept secret in Western New York for close to thirty years,” begins Kevin Kazmierczak, Principal of the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA). The school, which includes grades five through twelve, was founded in the late 1970’s as a college preparatory plan to attract students from all over the city, regardless of race or ethnicity. The BAVPA spent most of its time in a building on Clinton Street, and recently moved into a new facility on Masten and Ferry.
“The new facility physically supports our programs. In the old building, form did not follow function,” Kazmierczak said. “Once you go inside, you don’t know that you’re in the school. From the start, you can experience students’ artwork.”
The programs at the BAVPA go beyond the arts, as the faculty strives to develop a curriculum that includes art-influenced academics, and conversely, finding academics–such as math and social studies–inside art projects. “It is fantastic to be able to walk into any classroom and see these typically separate aspects all working together,” Kazmierczak said. Students have the benefit of the expertise of the teachers, and that of community organizations such as Hallwalls, the current partner of BAVPA in the Empire State Partnership (ESP) program.
The ESP program identifies, supports and develops partnerships between local cultural organizations and schools, with a focus on bringing—and at times returning—the arts into classrooms across the state. The collaboration between the school and the organization partner typically allows students to participate and learn from cultural events in the area.
“Students can really gain from the community and events [held by the organization partner], through not only access, but participation in the events as well,” explains Jam Vafai, who is part of the Media Communications department at BAVPA.
While not part of the Empire State Partnership program, the BAVPA has partnerships in the community with other organizations as well, such as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, with several other informal partnerships pending. Partnering with community organizations has allowed more of the hands-on access to art and artists than ever before.
Last month, Michael Ludwig, a renowned Classical Violinist, held a recital in the BAVPA’s new auditorium. Ludwig was also on hand to interact with the students, giving them some of his unique insight to his craft.
“There has always been a concert or a masters class for the students, when an artist visits the school. However, in the past, artists would go on to perform at another venue in the city,” Kazmierczak said. “Now we have the ability to hold that evening concert here at the school as well, allowing the community and students access to the event.”
Kazmierczak explains this as a “Three Pronged Approach” to success for the school: First and foremost is the education and growth of the students, including master’s classes with visiting artists. Secondly, the Evening Concert series provides ticketed special events that help support the Arts Academy Foundation. The AAF was founded by Buffalo native, and BAVPA alum Ani DiFranco. The Foundation supports the school by funding purchases of instruments and other art supplies for the students, in order to ensure that the students always have the tools to succeed despite any possible future issues with the Buffalo School District’s funding, since the foundation is a separate organization.
The final part of the “Three Pronged Approach” for BAVPA’s success comes from the community. “The Masten and Ferry area used to be a destination,” explains Kazmierczak. “One of our challenges is to remind the community that this still is a destination.”
Reaching out to the community with the evening concerts and events such as last month’s performance of The Wiz, and the upcoming production of Dead Man Walking—which includes a talk by the novel’s author, Sister Helen Prejean, after one of the performances—are excellent examples of how the BAVPA distinguishes itself amongst the arts community in Buffalo.
By attracting artists with the use of the new facilities to speak or perform, the BAVPA engages not only the students, but also the community. Each event will strengthen the school’s reputation and the Arts Academy Foundation, solidifying the school for the student’s—and Buffalo’s—future.
“We’ve been getting good comments from our events,” Kazmierczak begins. “One parent said to me: ‘My son wants to audition if these are the kind of events you hold here.’ People are discovering…or re-discovering us.” It seems the BAVPA may not be a secret for much longer.
For more information regarding the Buffalo Academy of Performing Arts, including admissions and upcoming events, visit bavpa.org or call 816.4220.