MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools

“Our expansion is a stimulus, an economic stimulus that will create jobs,” Rosten said. “We’re trying to do something unorthodox: we’re combining education with the economic. This is education that can create revenue and we can create a public-private partnership and can redefine, reinvigorate, and renew how that partnership works.”

A retired Hollywood producer who took a break from the school film instruction he established in the Bitterroot Valley is preparing to resume that work, and expand it throughout Montana.

“Montana needs economic development,” Rosten said, pointing to the long-term potential of media industry work as a source. “We should encourage growing a media savvy workforce and MAPS is an example of what has been done in the past and what can be done in the future, which is to train a well-educated workforce.”

Peter Rosten also thinks that expansive digital marketplace can foster growth for the economy of Ravalli County.

Home The MAPS Media Institute is committed to providing a rigorous, hands-on program designed to instill a lifelong passion for learning and to equip students with the skills and confidence for academic, social and professional…

“The grant is our seed money,” said Peter Rosten, a former entertainment industry writer, producer and executive who founded the Media Arts in the Public Schools http://www.mediarts.org/ , or MAPS, program at Corvallis High School.

When many folks retire they are content to putter around, travel and generally take it easy.

Not Peter Rosten.

MAPS was created in 2004 by the Florence Prever Rosten Foundation “to educate, create jobs and change lives for Montana youth.”

Rosten established a successful program called Media Arts in the Public Schools, or MAPS. Teenagers have learned how to direct and film movies, public service announcements and music videos. And they’ve been paid.

“Our Montana MAPS students are amazing. And a special thanks to the administrators at Corvallis High School – without them none of this would have been possible,” said MAPS President, Peter Rosten.