THE Contemporaries

Since its chartering in 1969, The Contemporaries have dedicated their talent, connections and resources to support educational, cultural and civic affairs of the community. As a separate 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, our mission is to provide funding for the Cultural Activities Center in support of the performing and visual arts, with a major focus on opportunities for children to participate in activities that will stimulate a life-long interest in the arts.

In the early years, the programming was implemented through the “Magic Little Blue Bus,” traveling arts in schools program, that served Temple/Belton and Killeen elementary schools. Lajuana Carabasi (credited for the “Magic Little Blue Bus”), Mary H. Steele (Founding President of The Contemporaries), and program chairs such as Marianne Stringfellow and Marion Brakebill, to name a few, worked tirelessly to bring the world to children through the various educational programs.

The Contemporaries continue to engage children in educational programs to bring the world to their fingertips and make the experiences seem real. Since the days of the Magic Little Blue Bus, The Contemporaries have expanded their reach through the Hands-On initiative which is a multidisciplinary field trip for third grade students. Through this initiative, students learn about the culture of different times, people, and places. Each two hour session is divided into four 25 minute segments. For many of the more than 2,400 students who attend, Hands-On is their first interactive experience with theater, art galleries, and an opportunity to learn about the world beyond their community. All activities and information are carefully designed to support classroom objectives and to meet state standards.

When members of The Contemporaries are asked why they joined, the common thread among their responses is serving children and bringing experiences to them that they would not have otherwise. The Contemporaries want the children who participate in the CAC programs to be engaged in learning experiences that take them across the world. Today’s Contemporaries intentionally includes spouses/family members to expand its diversity of resources, thoughts, and life experiences.