Arts @ Large has built an exemplary program that links community artist educators and higher education with teachers and students to create an atmosphere of arts-infused learning. Since the inception of Arts @ Large in 2001, we've observed and documented characteristics of excellence in arts education collaboration both in the classroom, and in after school and summer programs. The organic evolution of the Arts @ Large program is the result of ideas and best practices developed in a collaborative model between teachers, administrators, after school providers, artist educators, higher education and most importantly, students.

The Arts @ Large model is based on a simple mission: consistently advocate for the connection of arts to academics by building sustainable partnerships between the arts community, K-12 educators and students, public policy makers, and institutes of higher education.

With this mission in mind, we strive to meet goals that make arts education accessible for ALL students. Arts @ Large:

• provides ongoing, quality arts experiences for students that builds an arts-rich school climate, which encourages the inclusion of art and music specialists in school staffing plans.
• forges sustainable partnerships with artists, arts and community organizations to enhance in-classroom and after school learning, and motivate ALL students to higher academic achievement.
• provides arts education experiences in an inclusive environment designed to motivate students with diverse learning and physical abilities.
• helps teachers build skills to integrate performing, visual, and literary arts into all subjects in a manner sensitive to the needs of a diverse student population.

The Arts @ Large Model
Arts @ Large schools are accepted through an application process that is reviewed by a committee of the Arts @ Large Board of Directors and selected community and school representatives. Artists, educators, and business representatives help to prioritize the needs of schools and the appropriate fit for the Arts @ Large program. Financial resources are distributed based on student enrollment and the availability of funding from local, regional and national sources.

• Arts @ Large staff works with schools to create project teams comprised of teachers representing all grade levels and a variety of academic subjects.
• Teams identify academic learning priorities.
• Arts @ Large helps teams forge sustainable partnerships with higher education, artists, arts organizations and community organizations.
• Teachers participate in workshops, in-services, and higher education courses to acquire skills in proven arts integration methods.
• Teacher teams and partners collaborate to create arts integrated curriculum that motivates students to higher levels of engagement and academic achievement.

Arts @ Large schools receive a multitude of services that build an arts-rich learning environment. Arts @ Large provides:

• multidisciplinary arts experiences for students that encourages partnerships between artist educators, community organizations, higher education and schools to create short and long-term project-based learning.
• professional development for teachers and after school providers through participation in higher education arts integration courses, on and off-site in-services and workshops.
• substitute teachers that allow classroom teachers the opportunity to participate in visual, performing, and literary arts workshops.
• art, multimedia, and music supplies for academic curriculum-based arts integration experiences.
• transportation and admission fees for students and teachers to attend performances and exhibitions.
• resources for students to create their own neighborhood and public exhibitions, and special events.

Arts @ Large applications are reviewed and ranked based on a series of criteria. Schools eligible are K-8 to small high schools that...

• have little or no on going art and/or music programs.
• have 50% or more of the student body eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
• have an enrollment of 500 or less.
• have a diverse ethnic, social, developmental, and academic focused student population.
• support providing arts experiences for ALL students, regardless of their ability, geographic location, gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
• demonstrate support by administrators and teachers to create a school-wide, sustained commitment to the arts by integrating visual, performing, multimedia and literary arts across the academic spectrum.
• demonstrate the ability by classroom teachers to lead an arts integration effort.
• support collaboration between classroom teachers and community artist, arts organization, and higher education partnerships to enhance academic learning.
• support professional development for all teachers in arts integration strategies.
• staff administrators willing to explore ways to retain, increase or reinstate licensed specialists in full or part-time capacities within or at the end of Arts @ Large's three-year tenure in a school (length of support is based on available funding).

If you are interested in becoming an A@L School CLICK HERE for an application!