Last year, Dick Scanlan, a Broadway lyricist/librettist, and Evan Todd, a recent graduate of the Juilliard School's Drama Division, co-founded artsINSIDEOUT: a group of students and working professionals in the performing arts who have been personally affected by HIV/AIDS.  The mission of artsINSIDEOUT is to travel to areas of the globe that have been hit hard by the AIDS epidemic to work with young people who have been similarly impacted by the epidemic.  Through acting, singing, dancing, storytelling techniques and the visual arts, artsINSIDEOUT inspires its students to unleash their creative energy and communicate their own experiences. 

In July 2011—thanks to the generosity of our friends, family and fans!—artsINSIDEOUT  organized its inaugural trip to Nkosi’s Haven in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Founded by Gail Johnson in memory of her son, who when he died in 2001 was the international face of AIDS in Africa, Nkosi’s Haven offers holistic care and support for HIV/AIDS infected mothers and their children, and resulting AIDS orphans (infected or not).  Nkosi’s Haven houses the kids, feeds the kids, clothes the kids, finances educations for the kids.  The one thing it didn’t provide was any kind of arts training, so artsINSIDEOUT formed a team of ten teaching artists to fill that gap.  For two weeks, artsINSIDEOUT worked with 78 children, ages 6-17, culminating in a performance for the staff of Nkosi’s Haven and invited guests.  

Not surprisingly, having had a taste of what arts training can do for at-risk children, Nkosi’s Haven wants more—and artsINSIDEOUT is eager to return, departing on June 21, 2012. 

We were honored to raise 50% of last year's funds from small donations made by people like you.  All contributions are 100% tax-deductible!  And whether you contribute one dollar or one thousand, you’ll be helping us reach our goal—and you'll be helping artsINSIDEOUT's students realize that their stories matter.  Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

CHECK OUT OUR SITE FOR MORE BLOGS, VIDEOS, and INFORMATION: www.artsinsideout.org 

The artsINSIDEOUT Team: 

Evan Todd

Dick Scanlan

Gary Adler

Yazmany Arboleda

Colin Bates

Stephen Bates

Katie Hammond

Ziphozakhe Hlobo

Kobi Libii

Isaac Lehlohonolo Nteleki

Robert Schiffmann

Ali Stroker

Ellie Swiatkiwsky

Katherine Tokarz