What is arts in education?
Arts in education, also known as arts integration, is a type of teaching and learning in which educators and artists collaboratively use the visual and performing arts as a tool to teach other core subjects, such as reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Projects focus on the integrated study of the arts and non-arts subjects and use a co-teaching method to mesh the arts content with the curriculum content. See a glossary of arts-in-ed terms.
Why integrate?
Many educators believe that arts integration helps educate the whole child and develops a better-rounded individual. Integrating arts into the curriculum fosters greater understanding and more sustained knowledge. The arts help learning to become meaningful and relevant by tapping into the profound and complex intellectual and emotional processes involved in learning the arts.
Who can benefit from arts in ed?
The arts have the capacity to reach students who are not fully engaged by other school subjects and experiences, and students who typically have difficulty learning in school. Because the arts draw on a variety of intelligences (see more about Multiple Intelligences), students have the opportunity to learn in ways that work best for them. Of course, there is no one "magic" approach that works with every single child, but arts in education offers many avenues to enhance learning, and is adaptable to a wide variety of classroom situations.
One of the great strengths and joys of arts in ed is that everyone learns – teachers, artists, and students.
How can my child benefit?
The arts can foster critical thinking, creative expression, cross-cultural understanding, and academic achievement. The kinds of thinking skills and capacities students develop in the arts strengthen learning and development in other areas of school and life. Recent research shows that looking at art and hands-on art making helps students build important critical-thinking and literacy skills.
What about Standards? Will students be ready for tests?
Integrating arts into other subjects can create a "whole" standards-based curriculum by developing higher-level thinking skills across the curriculum while also preparing students for the challenges of state testing. PAE-funded arts-in-ed partnerships are based on the NYS State Standards, which are embedded in both the arts and non-arts aspects of the projects.
How would using arts in ed affect my teaching?
Teachers report that teaching through the arts increases their own satisfaction and makes for more powerful learning in their classrooms. Many teachers are pleasantly surprised to see a different side of students than they had seen before, and to gain a fuller understanding of them and their unique abilities. It offers the opportunity to develop new skills and techniques to increase success for all students, and for enriching life-long learning.
This sounds good, but can any of it be proven?
There is much ongoing research on the effects of the arts on children’s learning. Studies show that there is a direct link between the arts and student achievement. Students who study the arts develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving techniques, and a drive for excellence. Read what the National PTA has to say.
How can I find out more?
Here are some arts-in-education resources:
Empire State Partnerships
Arts Education at Americans for the Arts
Arts Education Partnership
Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education
Arts for Learning
"Champions of Change - The Impact of the Arts on Learning"
Learning Through Art at the Guggenheim Museum
Keep Arts in Schools
More info on PAE's website:
Model Partnerships
CNY Arts in Ed Grants (art$TART)
What kinds of projects receive funding?
How we award grants
Read or listen to an interview with Laura Reeder about PAE.