Featuring Arts for Learning Maryland, a nonprofit organization devoted to enriching the lives and education of Maryland’s youth through educational and culturally diverse arts programs. Through Arts for Learning, professional teaching artists from all disciplines partner with educators, schools, and school districts to provide, on average, over 300,000 hours of learning in, through, and about the arts to more than 150,000 Maryland students annually.
Why should teachers and students be excited about your programming?
Arts for Learning teaching artists partner with teachers to enhance learning and bring academic subjects to life through joyful, creative experiences.Program offerings, including interactive assemblies, workshops, residency programs, and family engagement nights, create inspired learning environments throughout the state of Maryland. Each program works to build community and connect students to new ways of thinking, seeing, and imagining through the arts!Interactive assembly performances are designed to inspire and educate students by introducing them to diverse art forms and cultures. Workshops offer students a unique opportunity to experience an art form in a hands-on session with the artist, fostering a deeper connection and understanding. Artist residency programs engage students in long-term creative, hands-on experiences through a series of in-depth classroom visits from teaching artists who work alongside educators and students. Many residencies are arts-integrated, connecting skills and concepts in the arts with those in math, literacy, and science, such as exploring math and music through writing poetry that incorporates algebra terms or handcrafting a mural depicting your local ecosystem.
Is there a particular program you’d like us to highlight? What makes it special?
Arts for Learning assemblies engage birth- grade 12 learners with vibrant, interactive performances that expose students to diverse art forms and cultures. For younger students, these programs also introduce essential skills such as rhythm and cooperation. Assembly artists utilize dance, theater, music, and visual arts to transform your school’s gym or auditorium into a stage where students not only observe but also actively participate. After the assembly, artist-led workshops further enhance the experience by providing students with hands-on practice in the art forms they have just experienced, such as painting, rapping, dancing, or storytelling.
Anything else teachers should know about you or your programs?
Access for All Grants: Now Available in every county in Maryland! Access for All grants help cover the costs of bringing teaching artists to your school. These grants subsidize up to 80% of the total expenses for residencies, workshops, assemblies, and professional development for students aged birth to grade 12. Schools are responsible for the remaining costs. Additional funding sources (e.g., Arts Every Day, MSAC AiE, local arts council funding, etc.) can be utilized to cover the remaining expenses for schools. Access for All was created to lower financial barriers to bringing artists into schools and centers, particularly in communities with concentrations of poverty, limited cultural resources, or in schools and centers that serve many students who are refugees, are English language learners, receive special education services, or face challenges such as homelessness or food insecurity.
Learn more about Arts for Learning Marylands programming on their website and follow them on social media!
Instagram: @arts4learningmd
Facebook: Arts For Learning Maryland
