The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Ithaca (New York) City School District to support and celebrate all the arts for all the kids. FABG is an affiliate of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative.

Latest News

IHS Fall Drama Nov 19, 20, 21

Posted Sun, 11/07/2021 - 9:26pm

Nov 19, 20 and 21 IHS Drama Club presents: She Kills Monsters by QUI NGUYEN

She Kills Monsters is a drama-comedy play by Qui Nguyen that tells the story of Agnes Evans, a woman who loses her parents and little sister, Tilly, in a car accident. Having been very distant from her sister while she was alive, Agnes embarks on an adventure to get to know her sister better by playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Ticket sale prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults if purchased online any day before the show’s opening date. On Friday, November 19th, tickets will change to $10 for students and $12 for adults.

Paper tickets are required for entrance. Tickets purchased online can be picked up at will call located in Kulp Lounge on Friday, November 19th, from 9:00 a.m....(read more)

ICSD adjusts protocols from 6 feet to 3 feet for Band, Choir and Theater

Posted Wed, 11/03/2021 - 7:40pm

November 3, 2021 Greetings,

We have been grateful for the tremendous work of our students and staff who have closely followed our health and safety measures. After closely monitoring the protocols and COVID-19 mitigation methods in our school district, along with maintaining ongoing communication with the Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) and our regional school districts, we have embraced another change to our COVID-19 protocols.

Starting on Monday, November 8, 2021, band, choir, and theatre will move from 6 feet to 3 feet of physical distancing. A number of factors have contributed to this change....(read more)

Saltonstall Teacher Residency Deadline December 12, 2021

Posted Tue, 09/28/2021 - 10:10am

Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts Partners with Fine Arts Boosters to Host Teacher Retreat Residency: Deadline Announced

The Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, in partnership with the Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of IPEI, is offering a creative retreat for teachers of the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) and other districts in Tompkins County during the February and April school breaks, Saturday to Wednesday, February 19-23, 2022 and Saturday to Wednesday, April 9-13, 2022.

The residency is designed to provide 5 day, 4 night retreats for local teachers in the following disciplines: creative writing, photography/film/video, and painting/sculpture/visual art. The program is totally free to attend. Teachers are selected through a lottery system....(read more)

Ad Sponsor Campaign Raises Money For School Grants

Posted Thu, 09/16/2021 - 7:28pm

FINE ARTS BOOSTER GROUP AD SPONSOR CAMPAIGN SEEKS SUPPORT FOR GRANTS

The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of IPEI, is seeking advertising sponsors for its 2021-22 performance program booklets for Ithaca City School District (ICSD) secondary schools’ events including concerts, dramas, and musicals of Boynton Middle School, DeWitt Middle School, Lehman Alternative Community School and Ithaca High School. Display ad space in programs is available for sponsors who would like to support FABG activities throughout the ICSD. Contact the boosters at ads@fabgithaca.org or go to https://www.fabgithaca.org/adpurchase. Performance program ad sales support the Fine Arts Booster Group’s Grants for teachers that fund enhanced arts experiences for students....(read more)

Apply for FABG Grants Now Oct 15 Deadline

Posted Sun, 09/12/2021 - 4:23pm

FINE ARTS BOOSTER GROUP ANNOUNCES GRANTS DEADLINES

The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) announces grant deadlines for the 2021-2022 school year to support Ithaca City School District students’ arts learning. FABG Grants application deadlines are October 15, 2021 and February 1, 2022. Applications are available online at www.fabgithaca.org/receive , by phone 256-4734, or email FABGgrants@ipei.org. Grant applications are submitted electronically.

“Teachers and students have met the challenges of the past year and continued their arts education in creative and unusual ways. We look forward to a new year and our continued support of the Ithaca City School District. Deadlines are announced now to give teachers time to dream and plan,” notes FABG Grants Chair Caitlin Kline....(read more)

IHS Graduate receives art exhibit honors

Posted Mon, 08/30/2021 - 11:25pm

Ithaca High School’s Leah Henseler was recently selected by the College Board for inclusion in the 2021 Advanced Art (AP) Art and Design Digital Exhibit. This year’s exhibit features high-quality student artworks exploring creativity, innovation in artmaking and thinking, critical thinking through inquiry, process and practice, and excellence in skill. Two of Leah’s sculptures, one of which is pictured below, were selected for inclusion.

“Leah’s sculpture explores the dynamic between humans and nature, woodgrain textures and ocean waves, the form, function, and beauty of everyday objects,” IHS Fine Arts Chair Carol Spence said....(read more)

Tatiana Byrd named Lee Strebel Memorial Award Winner

Posted Fri, 06/18/2021 - 8:41pm

Tatiana Byrd named Lee Strebel Memorial Award Winner

Tatiana Byrd was named as the recipient of the 2021 Lee Strebel Memorial Award for Enthusiasm in the Performing Arts. The Ithaca High School (IHS) Underclass Awardees were announced at the June 16, 2021 award ceremony at the Ithaca High School Performing Arts Center. The Lee Strebel Memorial Award is presented each year to an IHS student who has not only participated in performing arts at the high school level but has shown extraordinary spirit in that pursuit.

The award is given in loving memory of Lee Strebel, an IHS student who died suddenly during his freshman year in February 2006. In his short time at the high school, Lee became a standout in the drama department after playing the leading role of George Gibbs in Our Town....(read more)

PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR GRANTS - APPLY IN 2021-2022

Posted Wed, 06/16/2021 - 10:09pm

FINE ARTS BOOSTER GROUP ANNOUNCES GRANTS DEADLINES

The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) announces grant deadlines for the 2021-2022 school year to support Ithaca City School District students’ arts learning. FABG Grants application deadlines are October 15, 2021 and February 1, 2022. Applications are available online at www.fabgithaca.org/receive , by phone 256-4734, or email FABGgrants@ipei.org. Grant applications are submitted electronically.

“Teachers and students have met the challenges of the past year and continued their arts education in creative and unusual ways. We look forward to a new year and our continued support of the Ithaca City School District. Deadlines are announced now to give teachers time to dream and plan,” notes FABG Grants Chair Caitlin Kline....(read more)

Celebrate 20 Years of FABG - Virtual General Meeting June 1 at 6:00-7:15

Posted Mon, 05/24/2021 - 11:08pm

Join us!

You are invited to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) at our first virtual general meeting, Tuesday, June 1, from 6 - 7:15 pm.

We will hear updates about the state of the arts in the ICSD from Daphne Shululu, Fine Arts Director, and from Steve Manley, Executive Director of Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI). In addition, we will hear updates from ICSD arts teachers and FABG volunteers, including some history on how support for arts education has developed.

RSVP to: FABG president fabg_president@yahoo.com to get the Zoom link for the meeting.

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Help with NYSSMA - virtually, need help before June 1

Posted Mon, 05/10/2021 - 11:57am

Volunteers Needed for Virtual New York State School Music Association Festival (NYSSMA)

We are looking for volunteers to help transfer NYSSMA scores from one online platform to another for students that participated in our festival this year. We can start working on this by this weekend (May 15) and we need to be finished by June 1.

Contact Erika St. Denis for more details: erika.stdenis@icsd.k12.ny.us

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