Entertainment, Education and Business Professionals Create MAPS, "Media Arts in the Public Schools" in Montana

"The Arts in public schools are an endangered species," said Peter Rosten, President of the Florence Prever Rosten Foundation, founder of MAPS http://www.mediarts.org/ and a twenty-five year veteran of the entertainment industry. "We’ve set up a media arts and filmmaking program for rural public school kids 12-18; it’s our modest attempt to deter extinction."

The MAPS pilot project began September 2004 in the Corvallis, Montana, middle and high schools. Designated a "School to Work" program by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, the MAPS goal is to encourage a student’s creativity and provide an opportunity for a future career in the media.

The MAPS team is one of its strongest assets and includes screenwriter Jim Kouf ("National Treasure, "Rush Hour"), William B. Eimicke, Director of Executive Education, Columbia University; Dan Goodgame, Managing Editor Fortune Small Business Magazine, Peter Schneider, Broadway Producer, ("The Lion King") Bob Klein, Advertising Guru, Kleinand, et al. For the complete listing of the MAPS group, please go to http://www.mediarts.org.

Added Rosten: "The Corvallis program has already been renewed for another year and we’ll expand to other rural school districts in 2006. Our financial supporters, Montana state agencies, the Montana Arts Council, charitable foundations, the Corvallis school board, local banks and businesses, citizens, and of course family and friends, have been incredibly generous. And thank goodness because — and if I may paraphrase one of my favorite movies — ‘Without bucks, there’s no Buck Rodgers.’"

Corvallis Superintendent Daniel Sybrant stated that the Media Arts program has had an important impact on students this year. "There is a significant amount of enthusiasm and pride exhibited by the students who work in this program," Sybrant said. "When their first film was screened for students, teachers, parents and school board members, the reaction was very positive. We have given the green light for the program to continue next year and have made adjustments to accommodate more students. We are looking forward to future projects."

BREAKING NEWS: The University of Montana @ Great Falls has invited MAPS to host a two-day, summer seminar for High School and Middle School students of the area. The scheduled dates are August 8 & 9.

For more information, contact Peter Rosten @ (406) 370-3745 or visit the MAPS website, http://www.mediarts.org.

http://www.mediarts.org/