"To promote the performance of the arts and artists, in all genres, to enhance the lives of all people."

One of the fundamental premises of AHSANS is to combat gun violence thru the arts. In addition, AHSANS works to promote the arts in hopes of making the arts more tangible in children's (especially) daily lives, in order to create a better society.

AHSANS was originally created in New York, where the Founder, Dr. Deborah C. Hodge, resided at the time. AHSANS has morphed over the years. The concept was originally called S.E.A.T.A, which was an acronym for "Students Excited About the Arts." S.E.A.T.A. began as a television show which aired on Public Access Television in the suburbs of Manhattan weekly. It was designed to showcase students in the arts. Later, adults approached Dr. Hodge wanting to be on the show. The name of the show was then changed to,
"Arts Resuscitation," for the next two years. After much thought, Deborah wanted the name to become even more meaningful and changed it to "Artistic Hands Shaping A New Society," (AHSANS), which it remains today.

• Performing Arts

AHSANS is requesting $5000.00 to support and expand our annual "Bring Back The Melody" event to award contestants prize monies, cover facility fees, stage hands, judges, chaperones, brochures, advertisement cards, printing services, food for all contestants, chaperones and judges, sound person, MC for the event, marketing officer, talent coordinator, and president etc.

"Bring Back The Melody" will take place November 14, 2026 @ 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Farish Theatre, which is housed in the Lexington Public Library, downtown Lexington. Contestants are expected at the theatre @ noon in order to rehearse the show and have a sound check. There are usually two categories, ages 8-17 and 18 and older, with no age limit. Each contestant will be told what order they will perform during the sound check.
Following the sound check, the contestants will go upstairs to the third level of the library to a reserved room, where they are provided food and drinks, and have a chance to become better acquainted. Afterwards they will return to the main level, where they may change clothes, if necessary, in the dressing rooms. Dressing rooms are segregated on opposite sides of the dressing area, for male and female contestants. Chaperones are on hand during this time as well.
The show will be promptly @ 2:00, since time is very constrained. After the first half the show has concluded, the MC will thank those who participated thus far, and announce a fifteen minute intermission. During that time, we usually have a guest performer. Additionally, the AHSANS president will provide a brief overview and purpose of AHSANS.
Once the show resumes and all contestants have performed, the judges will convene to their reserved second floor room to deliberate. During this time we usually have the previous year "BBTM" winner(s) on stage to perform.
Upon the judges return and the winners have been announced, each contestant will receive an award. The actual winners will receive and award and a check for the designated amount, depending on which level they won. After all awards and prizes have been awarded, family members and friends may take pictures of their participating family member. AHSANS will also take photos to post on our website.
Previously we have had volunteers who maintain the reserved rooms upstairs for the judges and contestants, and the collect admission fees of $10.00 per adult, at the entry door. Children under the age of 18 are admitted free. This year AHSANS would like to be able to offer some financial award to all roles who previously served as volunteers in the past. We basically have not been able to afford to do so in the past, and the few who were gifted monetarily were mainly done so out of pocket of the AHSANS president.

The community has an opportunity to experience children and adults showing what the performing arts looks and feels like. They get to witness first hand the love the artists have for their craft. One can feel their passion and see their commitment to doing what they love. This may inspire to not only encourage their participant to continue performing, but it may demonstrate how important the arts are to our society. Hopefully, the community will sense a need to have more young people to participate not only in this event , but others alike. For the younger contestants, it keeps them focused, not in the streets, and happy doing what they love. For the more mature contestants, it provides an opportunity for them to continue expressing their passion for the arts. Perhaps some family members never really had the opportunity to see them perform. "BBTM" will give them that wonderful opportunity. There are just so many ways this events benefits everyone. Every year I personally see people leave happier than they arrived.

In the past I have had the opportunity to announce and talk about "BBTM" on one of our local television stations. that has been helpful. We also announce and post advertisement on our ahsana4all.org website. Word of mouth has played a large role in securing artists and audiences.

Our target audience is everyone. We want all ages to attend the event, just as all ages are welcome to compete. We seek performers age range from 8-108. We also seek out artists from surrounding counties, and not only Fayette.

No one is denied the opportunity to perform based on any aspect other than talent. Audition videos are emailed to me directly, and the more diversion the better. No one is excluded. I would never allow that to happen, and I make all final decisions, as the AHSANS Founder/President. Everyone is welcomed!

In the past we have partnered with a few local businesses, who have sponsored for example, gift cards and small financial donations. Also, WKYT TV has provided on camera time airtime for promotions. This allows us to get more exposure and to become more noted in the community. As the AHSANS I work diligently to secure sponsors, but have not been as successful as anticipated.

The goal of our annual event, is to showcase what children, especially, are capable of. Too many times children are viewed in negative ways. Sometimes there are children in our midst, and we haven idea of their potential. In one case with a contestant from last year, his family drove him from about two hours away to participate. He was very withdrawn, shy, and not vert talkative. But his grandmother told me days later, that though he did not win, he was very happy to have that opportunity. And of course, his family was extremely happy as well. Hopefully he will join us again this year. So, that's another example of our goal, to show children that they are not only talented, but worthy.

In the past, evaluations have been conducted by the AHSANS President on a one-to-one basis with contestants, family members, and those who assisted with the event. This year the president intends to ask audience members to perhaps fill out a brief survey prior to leaving, and or email thoughts and or concerns about the overall production. The president is also willing to consider other means of communication for evaluations, which might also be effective.
This will be our fifth year of "Bring Back The Melody" and each year we usually have at least one participant who did not win the previous year, return to compete again. This indicates that the program is serving as we had hoped and anticipated it would. In addition, to have a contestant's family drive a few hours so their child could participate in "BBTM", speaks volumes and encourages us to do even more.

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• CONTESTANTS.pvt_.zip
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• MC.MOV