Our Programs

What does Arts for Learning do?

We connect schools and community organizations with professional artists and programming of the highest caliber. We recruit and vet teaching artists, assist them in developing workshops and residencies that meet the evolving needs of educators, and encourage and provide ongoing teaching artist professional development.

Our goal is to unlock student potential, while working closely with teachers to make cross-curricular connections that open students’ hearts and minds to learning.

Find a Program

Arts for Learning Four Essential Elements

At the foundation of every core of our programming are Four Essential Elements that guarantee the strength and quality of each experience. These elements are:

EXPERIENCE providing participants with a live, professional-level art experience delivered by a professional artist.

UNDERSTAND providing participants with a new or enhanced understanding of an artform; it’s cultural context, history, tools, contemporary forms, etc.

CREATE providing participants with the opportunity to participate in the process of creating and empowering them to make artistic choices.

CONNECT providing participants with a link between program content to personal experiences, other academic learning, and/or life skill development.

Our Services

We offer programs in various forms including interactive performances, hands-on workshops, in-depth residencies, and professional development. Our programs are created to fit within a variety of academic and life skill curricula.

Virtual Programming

Now available for live streaming, Arts for Learning’s roster of professional Teaching Artists offer an array of creative learning programs in dance, music, theater, literary, and visual arts. Bring a Teaching Artist to your school via Zoom, or other streaming platforms.

Browse our library of Take 5 with Arts for Learning videos to meet some of our Teaching Artists and see how they educate through the arts.

Interactive Performances

Performances are large assemblies that provide a high-quality experience that engages students in an exciting show.

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Hands-On Workshops

Workshops place teaching artists directly in classrooms , where they work collaboratively with students to create unique works and gain further understanding about an art form and content area. This creative process improves their ingenuity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Workshops are typically conducted with a group of no more than 30 students and last about 45 minutes.

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In-Depth Residencies

Residencies are curriculum-based and consist of multiple sessions of sequential learning—three or more—in which a teaching artist works with the same group of students in a focused setting.

Residencies begin with a planning meeting between classroom teacher/site coordinator and Teaching Artist to set the goal and expectations of the residency and often close with a reflection meeting to discuss the outcomes.

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Professional Development

Arts for Learning offers professional development to teachers to provide strategies on how to use the arts to leverage learning in other content areas making student learning more meaningful and engaging. No arts experience or background is required for these sessions.

Browse Teacher Training

If you are interested in a certain type of workshop or residency tailored for a particular lesson or time of year, we can design a custom program that suits your unique needs. These tailored programs are co-planned with each teaching artist and created with the assistance of an Arts for Learning program staff. Please contact Ploi Pagdalian at ppagdalian@artsforlearningindiana.org.

Contact Ploi Padgalian

Book a Program

Our professional staff is here to assist you in choosing the type of program that meets your school’s curricular and budgetary needs. We provide a no-hassle approach to bringing our teaching artists to your school or venue. Virtual programming is also available! Contact your area’s program director to schedule a program or click here to find and book a program online.

Questions to Ask

What type of program are you looking for?
When would you like the program to take place?
What is your budget?
What is the age group of your audience?
How many people will be in the audience?
What curricular topics would you like addressed?

Information to Know

Workshops

Classroom limit: 30 students

Length: 45 minutes (unless otherwise noted)

Multiple: Two or more workshops occurring on the same day

Performances

Audience limit: 300 students

Length: 45 minutes

Scheduling a Program

To schedule a program, contact your designated Program Director directly or book through the Arts for Learning website.

Program Directors

Angela Yetter

Scheduling & Program Director

Email: ayetter@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: Washington Township, Pike Township, Wayne Township, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, all additional unlisted counties

Sarah Tirey

Program Director

Email: stirey@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: IPS, Center Township, Perry Township, Warren Township, Lawrence Township, Boone County, Hancock County, Johnson County, Madison County, Morgan County

Ploi Pagdalian

Senior Director of Programs

Email: ppagdalian@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: Franklin Township, Decatur Township, Shelby County