Biscuit Brothers Fine Arts Farm: A music school that's quintessentially Austin, by talent that's out of this world

From the Indiegogo Campaign page:

Jerome Schoolar, Producer and Co-Creator of the Emmy Award winning PBS show “The Biscuit Brothers” is calling on fans to support the building of a new Fine Arts Farm in South Austin that will be designed to provide music and arts education to the entire community. The proposed facility will include concert and theatre space as well as multiple classrooms, a themed outdoor area, and plenty of Magical Musical Farm décor.

“I want to create a space where we can entertain and educate kids and families of all ages in all sorts of ways,” said Jerome Schoolar, who plays Dusty on the show and has served as a City of Austin Fine Arts Coordinator for Children.  “Our vision includes regular classes, special concerts, theatrical guests, and more, with much of it low-cost or even free to Title 1 AISD schools and other at-risk members of our community.”

The Biscuit Brothers have a long history of providing inexpensive or free shows to the public - often benefitting other local organizations - and hope the new building near Slaughter Lane and I-35 will help sustain those as well as the TV show which is given to PBS for free.

“This is a big undertaking,” Schoolar said.  “We're going to need a lot of individuals and community partners to donate through the project at indiegogo.com we'll be launching on October 16, or even provide long-term sponsorship funds.”

$50,000 is needed to secure the property and begin upgrades.  Schoolar says he hopes to raise at least $25,000 with the indiegogo and another $25,000 from corporate sponsors.

“We've got some amazing rewards for our indiegogo supporters, including free classes and invitations to participate in the permanent decorations of the building.  For our top indiegogo donors or corporate sponsors, we're offering chances to name classrooms and more. And for everyone, we're offering the chance to help build a facility that has the potential to make a lasting impact across our entire community.”

Schoolar points to multiple studies on both the national and local scale that highlight the importance of Fine Arts training in education. “There's ample evidence showing that children who are actively involved in Fine Arts Education are smarter, healthier, and happier, and that exposure needs to begin as early as possible with reliable consistency. The Biscuit Brothers have always been about fostering musical education for young kids, and now we want to broaden that to a fully artistic and really fun Fine Arts Farm.”

If the funding goal to open the Biscuit Brothers Fine Arts Farm is not reached then all donations will be returned.


About the Biscuit Brothers Television Project
             
The Biscuit Brothers began broadcasting in 2005 and is made available for free to PBS stations throughout the United States. The show can currently be seen in 30+ markets. The Biscuit Brothers perform live concerts across the U.S., create educational materials for teachers and parents, and use their profile to help non-profit organizations raise money and awareness for programs including hospitals, schools, and other family-focused causes they believe are important. The Biscuit Brothers Children’s Television Project relies on private and corporate donations and the sale of their own CDs and DVDs to fund their production.