Expanded Arts Access

Extending the Reach of Arts Education

       The mission of Arts for Learning Massachusetts is to educate, inspire and empower youth through the arts. We believe the arts are an essential component of both formal education and youth development, and students of all identities, backgrounds, and abilities deserve access to the rich educational opportunities inherent in arts learning. Since 1962, we have been collaborating with artists, educators, and community partners to develop programs that harness the many powers of the arts to build skills, bring curriculum vibrantly to life, and introduce youth to new cultures and new means of self-expression. 

       Our donor-supported, Expanded Arts Access programs provide adaptive arts learning to youth in under-resourced schools, hospitals and shelters. Our partners recognize the arts as a crucial component of a holistic education but lack full-time teachers dedicated to arts instruction. The Expanded Arts Access curriculum bridges this gap, the immediacy of the art forms often cut through language barriers and the qualities of play, imagination, and expression engage youth in learning that is energizing and therapeutic. Teaching artists are trained in trauma informed teaching practices, and our residencies focus on educating the whole child, with an emphasis on Social and Emotional Learning.