Where Does Your School Stand?

Learning through the arts becomes deeper and richer the more it is planned and integrated. This continuum* describes five levels of involvement with the arts and potential impact upon student learning. YA-WNY can provide programs for schools at all levels, working with teachers, administrators, parents and students to help achieve the right degree of arts integration. Through collaboration with YA-WNY staff and teaching artists, your school can grow from single auditorium performances to multi-session artist residencies to whole-school partnerships.

Level I

One-time, isolated arts experiences... such as a symphony concert, an in-school performance or a field trip to the art museum.

Large groups of students (as opposed to single classes) attend prepackaged events. There is no modification of the presentation based on the participants. These experiences can be highly professional arts events, and may provide tremendous motivation. However, the long term impact of these events is highly dependent upon either a gifted educator who may be able to connect the experience with other learning, or an intensly personal connection for an individual participant.

Level II

One-time arts experiences connected to other learning experiences... such as workshops that are related to ongoing skills acquisition or to other performances or exhibits.

Large or small groups of students can participate in these events. These experiences can be somewhat modified for a particular group of students and lend themselves to further exploration by teachers and students through their connection to ongoing learning experiences. An example of this is a group of students culminating research on the countries of Africa with a workshop about African dance and music.

Level III

A limited series of workshops in a specific art form... such as a short-term residency that includes three to five visits by one artist.

Smaller groups of students participate in multiple sessions with an artist in the classroom. The content of the sessions is based on an objective identified by teachers and related to an educational goal. There is a great deal of interaction among students, teachers, and artists. Students have the opportunity to experience the work of a professional artist as well as to acquire and develop skills themselves. These experiences have more impact because they allow students, artists, educators, and teachers to develop relationships, and they explore material related to other learning objectives.

Level IV

Long-term, in-depth arts programs...such as a long term artist residency.

Artists become a part of the school culture during a series of events that spans from one week to an entire school year (and sometimes beyond). Residencies involve a wide variety of events and can include performances, demonstrations, lectures, workshops and master classes. Teachers and artists work together to determine content that relate to ongoing learning objectives. Artists often create new works and/or work with students to create new works. The length in time allows for multiple interactions with small groups, teachers and parents. Students gain valuable skills that can be easily recognized in future work.

Level V

Integrated residency projects... such as comprehensive arts programs embraced and committed to by members of the school community.

Schools with integrated arts-in-education programs consider the arts a critical part of a good education. These arts-in-education experiences involve a tapestry of all of the preceding and are designed to permanently impact student learning. They are part of an ongoing program that carefully weaves multiple components into a unified approach. They are designed to transfer skills, knowledge and experience that will positively impact student learning in all areas. They span multiple school years.

* Adapted from Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington’s Educators Guide and Basic Levels of Involvement for Artists in Schools and Communities--A System for Identifying and Clarifying the Nature of Planned Arts Experiences, by Connie Burket, Executive Director, The Kansas Alliance for Arts Education