Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, also known as Lovewell or Lovewell Institute, is a

501(c)3 organization A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of t ...

that organizes workshops for youth to write and perform an original musical. In 1989, Lovewell was founded by David Sheridan Spangler in Salina, Kansas. In 1993, Lovewell launched an international cultural exchange with Sweden. In 1996, Lovewell sponsored its first bilingual musical, entitled "Backstage Story," in Oskarshamn, Sweden. In 2009, Lovewell partnered with

United Way of America United Way is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit fundraising affiliates. United Way was the largest nonprofit organization in the United States by donations from the public, prior to 2016. United Way organizations raise funds ...

and the Violence Prevention Office of Broward County to conduct a

peace education Peace education is the process of acquiring values, knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors to live in harmony with oneself, others, and the natural environment. There are numerous United Nations declarations and resolutions on the importance ...

workshop with high school students in South Florida. The high school students produced the original musical ''Weight of Words'', which addressed students' personal experiences with "parental abuse, harassment due to sexual orientation, nationality, religion or disability, and cyber bullying." In 2011,

BankAtlantic BankAtlantic was a US bank that operated in the state of Florida until it was acquired in 2012 by BB&T Corporation. It provided consumer and business banking services to communities throughout Florida. It was founded in 1952 and had 78 branch ...

sponsored five different schools for 5th graders to perform ''Weight of Words.'' In 2015, Boca Raton's "Promise — The Alliance for Youth" nonprofit introduced ''Weight of Words'' to four more schools in Palm Beach County.

Notable alumni

Jacob Jeffries, Lead Singer/Pianist for the ''Jacob Jeffries Band''

Nathan Tysen Nathan Tysen (born January 15, 1977) is a Grammy-nominated American songwriter whose musicals have appeared on Broadway and the West End. Musicals with composer Chris Miller include ''Tuck Everlasting'', ''The Burnt Part Boys, Fugitive Songs'', ' ...

, Songwriter and Performer Kait Kerrigan, Playwright, Musical Theatre Lyricist, and Novelist Chris Miller, Musical Theater Song Writer and Composer Keith Center, Lead Singer and Songwriter of

The Dreamscapes Project The Dreamscapes Project is a rock band from Reston, Virginia that formed in 1997 and prominently features the cello. History 1997-2000 The Dreamscapes Project formed in 1997 when Keith Center met Jeremy Rodgers and Ricky Bongos at George Mason ...

References

Arts organizations based in Kansas Youth organizations based in Kansas Arts organizations established in 1989 Youth organizations established in 1989 1989 establishments in Kansas 501(c)(3) organizations {{US-arts-org-stub