Arts for Learning Connecticut Launches New Arts in Education Program Benefiting Students and Teachers
Arts for Learning Connecticut is the largest single provider of “arts in education” programs throughout the state, providing dance, storytelling, music, visual arts, digital arts, and theater programs to children in schools, libraries, and community centers.
The Foundation provided a $75,000 grant to help pilot AFLCT’s new impact, teaching and intervention model. This arts in education program met, and exceeded its founding objectives:
Design a comprehensive school-wide arts in education model with key partners
Launch programming in three pilot schools
Grow the network of school partners for the 2021-22 school year
The program is designed to impact every student and educator at a partner school through multiple tiers of engagement, including an extended artist in residence, in-class creative workshops, cultural performances, and educator professional development.
AFLCT shares our vision to help ensure that communities, children, and future generations have access to the arts and a quality education. We believe that no child should be denied that opportunity.
The program provided comprehensive arts and education programming to more than 1,500 K-12 students across three schools during a very disruptive school year, resulting in a delayed launch.
“Put simply, this grant from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation has had a singular and transformative impact on Arts for Learning Connecticut. The grant represented a full 50% of the budget for the pilot year. We cannot be more grateful for the Foundation’s support– or even more excited for what’s ahead,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director, Arts for Learning Connecticut.
Based on the pilot’s success, additional schools are already on board for next school year and AFLCT hopes to reach “dozens if not hundreds of schools” in the next decade.
In the words of one of the teachers whose students participated, “My biggest takeaway from this experience is that academic expression through art can open up a world of understanding and give those students that might not participate, a chance to do so in a meaningful way.”
To learn more about AFLCT, visit https://www.aflct.org.