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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CONTACT: </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Julie Gilliland, </span><a href="mailto:jgilliland@beckcenter.org"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:purple">jgilliland@beckcenter.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#26282A">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Beck Center For The Arts Launches In-Person and Online Classes in Fall 2020</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During COVID-19 Pandemic</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#26282A">Lakewood, OH</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#26282A">–</span><a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:purple">Beck
Center for the Arts</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#26282A">, in an effort to continually adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, has created robust in-person and online</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> arts
educational offerings for fall of 2020. Beck Center continues to respond to the needs of the community through arts experiences, as an entertaining and healing force for all ages, and abilities.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since mid-March 2020 students have experienced Beck Center’s arts education classes and lessons online, using Google Classroom and Zoom to continue pursuing their arts interests,
or to engage in a new interest. Now, the time has come to reopen the campus to the public on August 31, with in-person classes, and online classes, beginning on September 9.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ed Gallagher, Director of Education at Beck Center for the Arts, as well as a board certified music therapist for over 26 years says, “The Education team did a great job creating
a meaningful curriculum resulting in 145 weekly classes, of which 64 are online, and 77 will be in-person on our Lakewood campus. At the onset of the pandemic crisis Beck Center, along with all institutions that provide in-person instruction, was faced with
pivoting to an online teaching and learning model. This education format had never been utilized at Beck Center. The fall will see Beck Center offering 30% fewer courses than is the norm, with in-person and online courses to meet the needs and desires of our
families and students. Technology needs have grown, infrastructure is being expanded, and the financial outlay for hardware and software is substantial. In addition, we must be poised to move all classes onto the online platform should our area spike with
diagnosis or should the state or region shut down for a prolonged period of time.”</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Students and families have expressed a strong desire to return to Beck Center’s Lakewood campus for classes. For a full lineup of the arts education offerings please <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c9ae157ca525b79e8f35998/t/5f1f5f9db9d30a71024b7702/1595891618730/Fall2020_BigGrid_WEB.pdf"><span style="color:purple">click
here</span></a>. Fall Education registration is available now at </span><a href="https://apm.activecommunities.com/beckcenter"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:purple">beckcenter.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Accommodations have been created to keep students, families, faculty, and staff safe while creating arts experiences on campus. Face coverings will be required for all individuals
ages 6 and older. Social distancing marks will be present in all learning spaces, and clearly marked throughout the three buildings. Hand sanitizer will be available at all entrances, and in each classroom and studio space. A 15 minute break will be instituted
between classes to ensure that spaces may be cleaned. The complete protocols will be shared via </span><a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:purple">beckcenter.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. These
protocols are in alignment with Destination Cleveland’s “CLEan Committed” Program, Actor’s Equity Association<span style="color:#1F497D">,</span> guided by the CDC, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Citizens for the Arts, local
medical facilities<span style="color:#1F497D">,</span> and school systems.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Beck Center is located at </span><a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=17801+Detroit+Avenue&entry=gmail&source=g"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:purple">17801
Detroit Avenue</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland, <b>as well as anywhere you access the internet</b>. For more information visit </span><a href="https://www.beckcenter.org/education-programs"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:purple">beckcenter.org/education-programming</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> or
call Beck Center Customer Service at 216.521.2540 x10.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Programming at Beck Center for the Arts is made possible through the generous support of the Ohio Arts Council. Beck Center gratefully acknowledges the generous funding provided
by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that offers professional theater productions<span style="color:#26282A"> on two stages, </span>arts education
programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for individuals with disabilities, free gallery exhibits year-round, and outreach education programming.</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">###</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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