SPARC wins Emmy Award for documentary film featuring its arts education students

The School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC) and video production firm humanstory announced Thursday that a documentary film the two collaborated on, From the Wings: The LIVE ART Story, has won an Emmy Award.

The film was nominated within the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, whose 59th annual regional award ceremony was held in Washington, D.C., on June 24th.

The documentary follows six students from SPARC’s inclusive arts education program for students with and without disabilities, LIVE ART. It also follows their families and several staff members and chronicles how the children and adults face their own fears, learn what empathy really means, and discover countless things they didn’t know about themselves and the world around them.

The experience culminates in an inspirational night of music, dance and visual art—including a performance by recording artist Jason Mraz—that unifies students with and without disabilities before a sold-out audience at the majestic Carpenter Theatre.

The film has been airing on PBS stations all around the country, and as a result, it became eligible for Emmy consideration.

View the film trailer here.