The Acadiana Center for the Arts is looking for used instruments to donate to classrooms.
Do you have an instrument in your home collecting dust, or not being used? ACA is hoping you will consider donating it to the Play It Again Instrument Recycling Program.
With support from Uniglobe Associated Travel and Lafayette Music Company, Acadiana Center for the Arts can collect gently used instruments and repair them to provide them to schools for children who may not have the financial means to buy an instrument of their own. Often the cost to rent or buy instruments can be the only obstacle in providing an opportunity to play and study music in school. Play It Again increases the schools’ inventory so music teachers may provide quality music education to students who want to learn.
“There is no greater joy than seeing a child play an instrument for the first time. It is our privilege to help provide that path,” says Robbie Bush, President of Uniglobe.
Raymond Goodrich, the late owner of Lafayette Music Company, believed in the integrity and mission of the program. A dedicated partner of Play It Again, Goodrich partnered with the Acadiana Center for the Arts for over 10 years. Lafayette Music Company continues his work in the community, understanding the important relationship between children and music.
“For almost 15 years, Lafayette Music Company has partnered with the Play It Again program to make sure that more children have the opportunity to benefit from music education. Lafayette Music is committed to spreading the gift of music and championing the benefits of music education and the arts,” says Blaine M. Goodrich, Vice President of Lafayette Music Company.
The role of music in a child’s education provides self-discipline, self-respect, collaboration, creative problem solving, and increases their overall enjoyment and engagement in school. The Acadiana Center for the Arts makes this program available schools throughout Acadiana to place instruments in K-12 programs to achieve lasting results that benefit students for years to come.
The Acadiana Center for the Arts is currently seeking various gently used instruments ranging from flutes to violins, trumpets to guitars. If you have an instrument in decent condition, Play It Again drop off locations can receive instruments from now until July 31, 2019. Instruments can be dropped off at the Acadiana Center for the Arts located in Downtown Lafayette at 101 West Vermilion Street or at the Lafayette Music Company located at 3700 Johnston Street.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of our community as we work to bring arts into the classroom through the power of music,” says Samuel Oliver, executive director of the Acadiana Center for the Arts. “We have more than 600 free instruments in circulation for students around Acadiana. This year we’re hoping to grow that number substantially.”
All donations are tax-deductible, and donors will receive written documentation of their gift.
For questions about Play It Again, please contact Paige Krause, AcA Outreach Director, by calling 337.233.7060 or by emailing paige@acadianacenterforthearts.org.
