By Rick Brunson
Last year, we sought your support for the Stirling Dickinson Escuela de Arte located on the campus of Instituto de Allende. This program, run by Rick Brunson and servicing over 80 local high school students since 2016, has enabled talented young artists in San Miguel to receive college-level art instruction for free.
When we last communicated with you, the school was seeking to add a second art teacher in watercolor and pastel. You responded to our GoFundMe campaign magnificently, surpassing the $2300 (US) goal by donating $3571. As a result of your generosity, the program added Juan Ignacio Sanchez, a very talented and experienced art teacher. The results have been kind of mind-bending as you’ll see in some of the student art on the Facebook site. The students have transcended even our lofty expectations.
Given these spectacular results, we want to bring Juan on board as a permanent faculty member. The total annual three-semester cost for this program is 100,000 pesos. The 100,000 covers Juan’s annual salary of 72,000 (6,000 pesos per month) and 28,000 for his annual art supplies budget. At an exchange rate of 16.5 pesos to the dollar, the cost in U.S. dollars to create this one-year faculty position is $6060. A bargain by anyone’s definition.
We currently have 20+ former art students attending various Universities throughout Mexico and the US and several working as full-time artists.
To start the new GoFundMe campaign, Rick Brunson ($606) as well as John and Phyllis Wimberly ($606) are donating a total of $1212. So, we are starting off with 20% of our total fundraising goal covered. We are hoping that you and others will join us in reaching our goal quickly so our talented and passionate students can plan for next term.
We are so grateful for your past support and hope you can find a way to support the permanent expansion of our art school.Thank you for whatever you can do. From Friends of the Stirling Dickinson Escuela de Arte program
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