Recognizing and honoring Art-Reach for the premiere of their original documentary film, I Am which highlights the groundbreaking partnership between the Pennsylvania Ballet and the students of Saint Katherine Day School,

WHEREAS, On September 19th Art-Reach, an arts accessibility non-profit aimed at creating, advocating for and expanding accessible experiences in the arts for people with disabilities and lower income families, premiered its original documentary film,

I Am

, as part of the ENCORE program; and

WHEREAS, The Art-Reach ENCORE program is designed to shift cultural engagement for people with disabilities from observer to active participant; and

WHEREAS, Saint Katherine Day School, a first-in-the-nation special education school that serves students ages four and a half to twenty-one (21) years old with disabilities, was invited to partner with Art-Reach and the Pennsylvania Ballet on the ten (10) week creation of the original live production of

I Am

; and

WHEREAS, The documentary

I Am

follows the journey of the six (6) St. Katherine students from St. Katherine’s Day

School and eight (8) dancers from the Pennsylvania Ballet’s Second Company as they created an original, choreographed ballet; and

WHEREAS, The original piece was performed live at Art-Reach’s Cultural Access Awards in May, 2017; and

WHEREAS, This project broke the mold of how Art-Reach creates programming and continues to be a milestone for the organization and for the Pennsylvania Ballet’s Community Engagement Program; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY PHILADELPHIA, That the Council hereby recognizes and honors Art-Reach for its partnership with The Pennsylvania Ballet and St. Katherine Day School and for the sold-out premiere of its documentary film,

I Am

.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Art-Reach as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End