Extra Miles for Excite

Extra Miles For Excite

Project 2020-10-19 13:05:50 +1300

Ever since she was a teen, Celia Williamson has had a dream to open an Arts school. In 2016 she started Excite Music and Arts Academy as a place to inspire passion for the arts and spread family values through the community. Due to COVID-19 and the hardship it has brought upon the creative arts industry, this amazing asset to Hamilton young people is facing closure if it cannot source community support by 24th December.

Excite Academy is a Visual and Performing Arts Academy based in Hamilton, NZ. Every day we see the Arts changing young peoples lives, increasing their confidence and building positive skills that last a lifetime. This flows into other areas of their life, building a brighter future of difference-makers in Hamilton, New Zealand, and beyond.

Our fundraising target to remain open is $32,000 by the 24th of December, and we need your help to give Excite some Extra Miles!

My name is Kim Williamson and I am Celia's daughter. We started Excite Academy together in 2016, however I was very young and unprepared to run a business, so Celia has faced all of the responsibility and hardships alone. Now it is my turn to help her. Our team consists of the Excite Academy staff (approx. 20 members) and a few family and friends who also believe in Celia. Over the years she has treated every single one of us as family, going above and beyond her role as an employer, and has created such a strong team that we are united in this goal together.

Get to know Celia:

Celia has lived in Hamilton all her life, raising six children and currently has 12 grandchildren! She is very passionate about family, and has always been able to make anyone she meets feel a part of hers. She has spent the past 20 years teaching in the classroom and as a music specialist in schools, helping train Music Teachers in the Waikato, and helping to plan and implement professional development and support for teachers in the greater Waikato Area. She was also on the New Zealand Music Education Board (MENZA).

"Music has been a huge part of my life.  I learned piano at a young age, taking up piano accordion in my teens as well, learning both to a teaching standard. Since then I have learnt and taught many instruments and I love them all!  As long as I am hearing, playing or teaching music I am excited!” - Celia Williamson

Children in costumes they made during a Superhero themed holiday programme

About Excite Academy:

It has long been a dream to open a school of this kind. As a teenager Celia would watch episodes of ‘Fame’ every Saturday night, thinking how amazing the idea of a dedicated Arts school was. While teaching in Primary schools she saved up to buy instruments here and there, creating a collection over the years. She also noted the small amount of Arts offered within schools and the lack of freedom the curriculum lent teachers. In 2015 she finally decided to just go for it, and open her dream academy.

We first opened our doors on 15th February 2016 and have since had an amazing 5 years meeting budding musicians, performers and artists that we can nurture, teach and impart our knowledge to, and we have a range of highly qualified, capable teachers assisting us to do this.

Our philosophy:

At Excite we believe that every child is already inherently creative. Our focus is to impart both passion and knowledge through methods that keep students entertained and having fun. While we do offer traditional teaching methods and examinations, these are for the students who personally wish to do so. We also believe in real world application of knowledge, so we give opportunities for students to perform and be involved in Performing Art recitals and concerts, and a Visual Art exhibition every year.

While we are very focused on providing high quality lessons at affordable prices, we are also a community based organization. Excite Academy upholds family based values and provides opportunities for families to attend classes together. We work with Hamilton schools, playcentres, and disability services, and offer enrichment holiday programmes. The dream for Excite Academy is to continue to grow as a community based Arts Centre, evolving to fit the needs as we discover them.

Parents viewing student work during the 2020 Art Exhibition

Our problem:

Running a community based Arts Academy is not a high profit endeavour. Celia started this school armed with passion and a love for the community and for the past 5 years she has worked tirelessly to create a business from scratch, striving for her dream while often sacrificing time, sleep, and family life, for no personal profit. Unfortunately due to the hardships that came with COVID-19 during this year Excite will have to close at the end of 2020 unless we can raise the funds to stay open.

What are we doing to help?

The Excite Academy staff have rallied behind Celia and are working together on solutions. They have voluntarily taken wage cuts, and will be hosting two large fundraising events during the remaining two months. We will be running a Gala on the 21st November, and a Christmas Concert on the 12th December. All proceeds from these events will go towards this Pledge Me campaign.

What can you do?

Please donate to and share our Pledge Me campaign! We greatly appreciate any support in giving Excite some Extra Miles!

For more information about Excite Academy, head to our website here, or our Facebook page here

Some of the finished work from a Parent + Child Art Workshop

Drama and Musical Theatre students performing in our end of year concert

Students attending a Dance Workshop during the school holidays

Violin students performing in our end of year concert

Art students in class

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