MISSION
Arts for Learning Indiana brings the arts to your school community to champion creative learning, innovate education, and transform lives.
VISION
Arts for Learning envisions a future where all youth in Indiana have access to an education that is made whole by the arts.
We Value
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access and Belonging as essential elements of an ongoing process to move our culture toward justice and solidarity.
- The strength of symbiotic and innovative partnerships.
- Learning that fosters Imagination as central to developing Self-discovery, Critical Thought, and Empathy.
- People who integrate creativity into their lives; in particular:
- Artists for their devotion to the fostering and amplifying of cultural expression
- Educators for their commitment to inspiring young minds through culturally sustaining pedagogy
- Youth for their inherent intelligence and curiosity to explore, create, and discover who they are
We thank all who lift up the mission and celebrate the vibrancy of the Arts for Learning community: staff, board, donors, advocates, and volunteers.
By the Numbers
School & Community Partners
Youth Served
Workshops
Performances
Teachers served through 234 teacher services/professional development sessions
From Our President
I began my journey with Arts for Learning in June of 2021, as it reached its milestone anniversary of 60 years. I had long admired the organization and the impact of its programming on the young people in the community. I was excited to become a part of this long-standing organization and play a role in igniting the future!
What an exciting first year it was celebrating Arts for Learning’s rich history. As we celebrated the countless individuals, artists, educators, and students who helped the organization, we also looked to the future and how we envisioned the organization growing and expanding in today’s educational and cultural landscapes.
I was proud to work alongside the thoughtful and dedicated staff of Arts for Learning as we tackled the daunting process of strategic planning and focused on what defined “success” for the organization. With a newly formed set of Mission, Vision, and Value statements, Arts for Learning ends this fiscal year with a clear understanding of our goals and values as an organization. As you read through this report and learn about all the impactful programs and initiatives Arts for Learning is currently a part of, I think you can share my excitement for the future of Arts for Learning! Thank you for your continued support! – Anya
After 25 years with the organization, Arts for Learning’s longtime President and CEO, JoEllen Florio Rossebo retired on June 30, 2021. Anya Aslanova, the organization’s new President began her tenure the following week. Arts for Learning hosted a series of “Coffee and Conversation” meet and greets with Aslanova, for her to get to know our donor base, and to share her vision for the organization.
Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, an important educational and cultural center in Eastern Europe, Aslanova came to the United States as a high-school exchange student. After earning a prestigious scholarship, she went on to attend Anderson University in Indiana where she received a B.A. in Visual Communications and Marketing. She later taught art and design classes as an adjunct faculty member for Anderson University. In 2006, she became a United States citizen and now lives in Indianapolis with her husband, two sons, and mother.
“As a parent and a community member, I have long admired Arts for Learning and appreciated its influence on our community, especially on the many young people who have been impacted through its programs.” said Aslanova. “It is my privilege to work with the staff, teaching artists, and the board as we continue to grow Arts for Learning’s footprint in the community. I am excited and honored to be given the opportunity to build upon the legacy of this dynamic institution.”
New and Outgoing
Board Members
We would like to thank our outgoing board members: H. Daphne Chiu, Citizens Energy Group, Anson Keller, DkGr, LLC, and Anne Surak, Art + Space.
Meet our new board members:
Lisa Waite
A self-described Indy-thusiast, Lisa Waite spent the formative years of her career working in marketing for Fortune 200 corporations in telecommunications and transportation industries. She changed career paths mid-way to apply her skills and talents in the service of local non-profits.
Kelly Teller
A Park Tudor alumna, Kelly joined the Development Office in 2018 after serving as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for The Cabaret, a nonprofit arts organization. She has been active in the Park Tudor and Indianapolis communities as a member of the Park Tudor Alumni Board, the Junior League of Indianapolis Board of Directors, St. Richard’s School Board of Trustees, and the Lacy Leadership Association, among other civic affiliations.
Alex Avtgis
Alex was an elementary school teacher before ever attending law school. And to this day, he still misses the classroom and the act of inspiring minds. After graduating from law and graduate schools in Bloomington, he moved to the Little Flower neighborhood in Indianapolis and has been a denizen of the Hoosier capital ever since. He works as an attorney.
Kurt Green
Kurt is a lifetime resident of the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. He works downtown as an architectural associate at studio AXIS, where he has enjoyed contributing to an eclectic lineup of projects ranging from fire stations to corporate office renovations. Outside of work, he teaches group fitness at the Athenaeum YMCA, spends time with his family, attends church and art functions at Redeemer Presbyterian and the Harrison Center, and watches movies with his roommates.
Dr. Teresa Baker
Dr. Baker has been an educator for over 25 years and has served in a variety of positions: elementary school leader, magnet coordinator, curriculum facilitator, and teacher. Teresa is a long-time advocate for arts education in children’s daily lives. As a school leader she partnered with Arts for Learning to provide children with enriched learning experiences.
Stephanie Robertson
Stephanie Lewis Robertson sings to her hand-printed fabrics while she works. Spirituality, TBI, nature, and the power of women serve as her inspiration. Ms. Robertson is the Program Chair for Fine Arts at Ivy Tech Community College, Central Indiana region. Among her awards and grants are three Individual Artists Grants from the Indiana Arts Commission, recipient of the Stutz Artists Association Studio Space in 2002, and an Arts Council of Indianapolis Creative Renewal Fellowship in 2001. She holds an MFA from the University of Georgia and a BFA from Miami University in Fabric Design. She is also a retired teaching artist with Arts for Learning of Indiana.
Newly Adopted
Strategic Plan
Beginning in the fall of 2021, Arts for Learning began an extensive strategic planning process to develop and establish organizational goals for the next three years. Starting in July 2022 and by June 2025, Arts for Learning Indiana will deepen its reach as a trusted partner in Central Indiana, providing quality arts in the education curriculum. Arts for Learning Indiana will be well-known for transforming the lives of students and empowering Teaching Artists through growth and learning. Arts for Learning will achieve this by focusing on four key strategic pillars: Financial Sustainability, DEIA, Improving Awareness, and Deepening Our Presence.
Improving Awareness
AFL will strengthen its reputation and awareness among Central Indiana educators in order to ensure continuity in our relationships, increase opportunities to serve more students and attract additional funding.
Deepening Our Presence
AFL will build deeper relationships with our existing school partners in order to provide more quality arts in education curriculum to more students in Central Indiana.
Diversity & Inclusion
Our AFL board will define a model for the DEIAB evaluation and assessment of current and future program offerings to align investment with organizational sustainability and impact.
Financial Stability
AFL will build a sustainable model focused on future growth.
Program Initiatives
third space
third space is a project that temporarily disrupts the school environment and learning experience through the installation of large-scale, transformative works of art created by established local artists. In 2019, Arts for Learning partnered with six schools in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, six established installation artists, eight teaching artists, and the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University to develop and implement the third space project. Together, through a temporary exhibition, unique third space curriculum, and companion teaching artist residency, teachers and students were prompted to consider new and different perspectives and to experience surprise, wonderment, and curiosity through art.
On June 23, 2022, Arts for Learning held the culminating event at Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie featuring the premiere of the third space documentary film followed by an artist panel.
Arts & Lit
Arts & Literacy is a year-long residency that utilizes a school’s reading and language arts curriculum as the basis for artist-led workshops, reinforcing reading, literacy, and social emotional learning goals. This year’s Arts & Literacy program, served more than 800 students, grades K-6 at Daniel Webster IPS #46, Global Prep Academy, Thomas Gregg Neighborhood School #15, and Victory College Prep. The program provided an average of 32 workshops weekly that were developed and taught by eight Arts for Learning’s Teaching Artists: Beverly Roche, Carol Tharp-Perrin and Larry Gindhart, Cathy Morris, Gary Gee, Giselle Trujillo, Manón Voice, and Shawn Whistler. Arts & Literacy was funded by the Indiana Department Education.
ABC Fellowship
Through our Artists Building Community (ABCs) Fellowship, Teaching Artists Giselle Trujillo, Manon Voice, Mark Peay, and Portia Jackson have had the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the organization, focusing on a grassroots approach to foster sustainable, equitable, and interdependent relationships. Thanks to the efforts of our fellows, this year Arts for Learning partnered with several community organizations, including the Hawthorne Community Center, The Near North Promise Program, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.
Showcase & Gala
Programming demonstration
Teacher’s Showcase
As a part of our 60th anniversary, Arts for Learning brought back its signature event for educators, the Teacher’s Showcase. Held on May 12, 2022, at Indiana Landmarks, this free event allowed teachers, principals, and school administrators the chance to experience our unique programming through active demonstrations and the opportunity to network with other educators and Arts for Learning Teaching Artists. Eight teaching artists participated in the showcase including Cathy Morris, Allison Victoria, Gary Gee, Beverly Roche, Giselle Trujillo, Melissa Gallant, Portia Jackson, and Ronne Stone, giving the educators the chance to experience a great variety of different programming. Lacey Bohlen from the Indiana Department of Education was also on hand to lead funding information sessions on Title IV funding so they can bring our programming to their school.
Fundraising Gala
ARTS POP!
Arts for Learning held its first ever fundraising gala as a culmination of our 60th anniversary celebration. The 60s themed gala held on June 2nd at The Heirloom event space. Titled “The Arts are Always in Style.” Embodying Andy Warhol’s “The Factory”, the gala focused on highlighting creativity and the arts. Approximately 140 guests donned their grooviest threads and enjoyed a variety of unique experiences from a liquid light show, a fashion show of clothes inspired by the 60s, a silent auction, wine pull, and an interactive art experience led by Teaching Artist Giselle Trujillo. The event was deemed a huge success by the organization raising a net revenue of $21,387, as a first-time event. Additionally, gifts from attendees continued to come in that following week.
New Teaching Artists
Each year, Arts for Learning Indiana seeks professional artists locally and nationally to join our roster of teaching artists. Our three new artists, 2 local and 1 out-of-state, will build upon our unique program offerings through their individual artforms. These artists join our robust roster of teaching artists who will provide arts education workshops, residencies, and performances to Indiana youth in classrooms and communities throughout the state.
“This cohort is truly indicative of the vibrancy and energy present in the Indianapolis arts community,” said Clockwork Janz, Director of Artist Programs. “Allison Victoria and Beatriz Vasquez are self-taught, innovative, mold-breaking artists. Both serve as wonderful role models for our youth on the different paths one can take to find their own truth, place and space in community, through artistic expression. Additionally, Sherry Norfolk, joining us from the St. Louis affiliate Springboard to Learning, brings a wealth of wisdom, perspective, and experience to our roster. Truly all three of these artists bring something inspiring to bolster our already incredible, dynamic, and creative roster.”
Allison Victoria
Allison Victoria is a singer-songwriter, emcee and musician from Indianapolis. Her style ranges from Soul, Hip-hop, R&B, Folk, Gospel, Pop, Jazz and more. Her mission is to be a voice for the people, inspire and spread love one song at a time.
Beatriz Vasquez
Beatriz Vasquez is a visual ARTIVIST, whose work experiments with the conceptual use of Papel Picado, a Mexican Folk Art. With the manipulation of paper materials she transforms layers of intricate cut paper into murals, wearable sculptures, and large scale installations. Her work focuses on her Mexican-American ancestry, cultural memory, border culture, and current social issues on immigration and human rights.
Sherry Norfolk
Sherry Norfolk is an award-winning storyteller, author and teaching artist, performing, and leading residencies and professional development workshops nationally and internationally. As a performing artist, she is a dynamic storyteller, telling well-crafted and age-appropriate folktales from around the world. Sherry is also a Wolf Trap Teaching Artist.
Financials
Revenue
Expenses
Our Supporters
Supporters $5,000+
Anonymous (2)
Alan Hill
Sara and Jim Lootens
Susan and Jason Oliver
Supporters $2,500+
Kate and Dan Appel
Allison W. Meta
Carolyn and Bill Neale
Amy and N. Clay Robbins
Supporters $1,000+
Anya Aslanova and Nick Ohler
Sarah Barney
Roy and Mary Cage, Young
Audiences of Indiana Endowment
Fund of Legacy Fund
Todd Clevenger
JoEllen Florio Rossebo
Earl Harris 15 Year Charitable
Lead Annuity Trust
Katie and Bill Mahoney
Julia Clay and Dustin Mergott
Linda and Don Neel
Cheryl and Jim Strain
Kelly and Jon Teller
Lisa Waite
Colleen and Jeff Webster
Supporters $500+
Anonymous
Teresa Baker
Bob and Tish Brafford
Victoria T. Broadie
Jim and Gwen Chesterfield
Lindsay Clark
Mary and Steve DeVoe
Joan FitzGibbon
Anson Keller
Jean Richcreek
Anne Scheele
Bob and Alice Schloss
Kathy and John Sharpe
Cindy H. Stellhorn
Anne Surak
LaTonya M. Turner
Emily A. West
Supporters $100+
Kristina Akopdjanova
Bob* and Pat Anker
Alex and Laura Avtgis
Lisa and Larry Beiter
Thomas Benoist
Suzanne B. Blakeman*
John C. Bloom
John and Catherine Bridge
James and Carol Campbell
Jennifer Collins
Fred and Joan Dennerline
Joan and Bill Gardiner
Megan Gettelfinger
Irena and Alex Goloschokin
Jan and Jim Gould
Kurt Green
Mary and Tom Grein
Kristi E. Helgen
Lawrence Hilton
Jenny and Gary Hollingsworth
David and Melli Hoppe
Rick and Kathy Hursh
Carole Longardner
David and Carol Luhman
Dr. Bernie Lyon
Susan B. May
Kathleen McCain
Jackie and Jim Morris
Dawn Musselman-Coverdale
Byron and Margaret Myers
Dorit Paul
Sherri Pharris
Michael and Susan Porter
Stephanie Robertson
Randy Rogers
Mark and Nancy Ruschman
Molly and Joe Shane
Joyce Sommers
Alan and Betty Stanford
Haley J. Wentzlof
Gretchen Wolfram
Mark and Sally Zelonis
*Deceased
Supporters up to $99
Claudia Alerding
Anonymous (2)
Geoffrey Arbuckle
Randall Ayers
April Badger
Sara Beanblossom
Don and Ginger Bievenour
Christina Binhack
Judy and John Birge
Annette Bonfiglio
Satanay Borsa and Matthew Slagel
Wendy W. Boyle
Jane T. Bradford
Dottie Carlson
Jeffrey Caso
Jess Cowl
Judith Culpepper
Marti Daily
Jessie Dias
James and Josephine Dunson
Paul Falaschetti
Irene Fox
Gary Gee
Leigh Gee
Sean Gray
Robin Greene
Sherri Haas
Scott Hall and Elizabeth Guipe
Doug and Karena Halman
Jim Hardee
Betty Hartwell Klein
Lori and Randy Hay
Linda Barb and David Hinshaw
David Hochoy
Wesley Homoya
Jane Howard
Claire Jagla
Ann Jagla
Clockwork Janz
Steve Kearney
Janelle Keele
Colin King
Jessica Knudsen-Bahney
Vera Kotlyar
Katrina Kuntz
Ann Lacosse
Gerry and Sue LaFollette
Anne Laker
Amanda Lockett
Lori Lucas
Jordan Maitland
Kirsten Van Marter
Mary and William Mattews
Christina McClain
Rebecca McClain
Mr. and Mrs. R.W. McCormick
Stefanie Mojonnier
Cynthia Mojonnier
Judith B. Murphy
Chris Nelson
Carrie Palmer Pacifico
Kim Rauch
Bob and Sandy Reiberg
Pam Rosenberg
Mary and Denny Rusher
Bob Sabol
Julie Schmidt
Robert Seelbach and Beth Koenen-Seelbach
Adrian Selig
Vicki Shafer
Vic and Katie Smith
Nina Suntzeff
Glenda Survance
Tracy Swinton
Ellen Tevault
Charles and Wanda Thompson
Allen and Denyse Thorpe
Beatriz Vasquez
Becky Voelz
Kathy Wasson
Susan Watt Grade and Jeremy Grade
Tina Worm Morris
Angela & Derek Yetter
Leah and Gregg Zion
Grants
Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable
Foundation
Arthur Jordan Foundation
Arts Council of Indianapolis
Carl Marshall Reeves and Mildred
Almen Reeves Foundation
Christel DeHaan Family Foundation
Downtown Optimist Foundation
Griffith Family Foundation
Hamilton County Community
Foundation, a CICF affiliate
Indiana Arts Commission and the
National Endowment for the Arts, a
federal agency
Indiana Department of Education
Lilly Endowment Inc.
Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr., Memorial
Foundation, Inc.
PNC Foundation
The Eugene and Marilyn Glick
Family Foundation
The Penrod Society
Unity Foundation of La Porte
County
In-Kind Donations
Brainstorm Print
Global Preparatory Academy
Republic National Distributing Co
Salesforce
Sun King Brewery Co
The Heirloom at N.K. Hurst
Wolf Trap Institute
Corporate
Anonymous
Arte Mexicano en Indiana Inc
Axis Architecture
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
BMO Financial Group
Glick Philanthropies
Gregory & Appel Insurance
Kappa Kappa Kappa Inc., Epsilon
Sigma Chapter
Legacy Consultants Group
Legacy Wealth Partners of
Raymond James
Lumina Foundation for Education
McDonalds – North
National Bank of Indianapolis
The Merchants Property Insurance
Company of Indiana
The PNC Financial Services Group