Professional Learning

Holistic Support for Teaching, Learning, and Leading with the Arts
 

Your Partner for Educator Growth

Our professional learning programs value the expertise of teachers and artists and engage them in creatively examining and improving their teaching practice through art, curiosity, research-based approaches and hands-on experiences.

 
  • three women face the camera hands curved above their head. Behind them in the scree are the words explore shape. Other folks have their backs to camera.
    Hands On and Arts Forward

    We believe that everyone benefits from working and thinking as an artist and that each artist has their own artistic process that they discover and develop through hands on experiences. In order to truly hold space for young artists, educators also need to engage in authentic arts experiences paired with rigorous reflection, creativity, curiosity, and play.

    An Example of Experiential Learning

  • Inquiry Process

    Following AC's Action Research process educators work together to design, test and revise new teaching strategies.

  • Peer Learning

    The learning built through peer learning communities carries forward with their members beyond the workshops.
 

How we work

All of our programs follow The ArtsConnection Framework which engages our research-based approaches to increase agency, build belonging, and lead with cultural humility.

 
  • a dance teachers smiling makes a shape in front of participant
    The Arts Connection Framework’s A, B, C's of Joyful & Liberatory Arts Education
    • Agency: Students choice, and voice are the foundation.
    • Belonging: Creates a space where ALL different learners are supported, and welcomed.
    • Cultural Humility: Recognizes, values, and uplifts the incredible strengths and diversity of each individual student.
Silouhette of a dancer with arms spread. Text The Arts Connection Framework
The Arts Connection Framework
The Arts Connection Framework focuses on how are you teaching so you can:
- Create a culture that supports & includes everyone in the room
- Lead with humanity
- Follow the joy
The Arts Connection Framework
 

What do participants say?

 
Teachers-stand-in-a-large-circle-holding-music-paper-in-their-hands-working-in-small-groups
Participant Testimonial
"ArtsConnection helps teachers build and maintain instructional spaces that promote equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and culturally responsive and sustaining education.”
a principal and a teacher review curriculum connections post visual arts activity
Participant Testimonial
“Every ArtsConnection staff member connects to arts teachers by acknowledging their humanity, deeply listening to their concerns, and cultivating the artist within. Art making is a cornerstone of each ArtsConnection session. It has helped me reflect on my practices as a teacher and facilitator.”
a group of teachers make a tableau inspired by a long walk to water.. One person is being pulled another is looking back, and one person has their hand on their head.
Participant Testimonial
“I am grateful for the artistic challenges, the reflection, and the community each ArtsConnection session provides me with. I know that every teacher, school leader, student, family member, and school community member would benefit from working with ArtsConnection."
 

Workshop Offerings

Deepen student learning and impact by activating the arts and artistic strategies

 

 
  • students play with small animal puppets in front of a posterboard that says story problem
    Arts Integration

    In arts integration workshops the arts become the approach to teaching and the vehicle for learning. Students meet dual learning objectives when they engage in the creative process to explore connections between an art form and another subject area to gain greater understanding in both.

    Arts Integration
  • A girl holds up her genie puppet and expresses her story to a friend

    Arts & Literacy

    Learn accessible to all artistic practices grounded in our research based program Bridges to enhance literacy learning.
    Bridges for Teachers
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    Arts & English Language Learning

    Learn how to build English Language skills through the arts. Based on our research program DELLTA.
    DELLTA for Teachers
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    Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning

    These workshops offer both theory and tangible strategies for creating equitable learning environments through ArtsConnection’s  Framework elements of Agency, Belonging, and Cultural Humility – with hands-on artistic experiences, reflection, and application.

    coming soon
  • artist leans in to two students - one is in a wheelchair. all three have colorful striped sock puppets on their hands.
    Students with Disabilities

    ArtsConnection has a long history of partnering with D75 schools and self-contained classrooms designing residencies that engage all students. AC’s approach offers all students and their teachers a new pathway to achievement, providing a “way in” to engagement and success for many children who learn best through alternative modalities.

  • a group of artists sit in front of a slide reading panel. in the forefront of the image is a large piece of butcher block paper that has drawings on it. On the right side a women in flower pants in animatedly introducing the group
    Strengthening Collaborative Partnerships

    Supporting all of the learners in a classroom is a collective effort that requires skilled and thoughtful partnership. In this workshop, you’ll come together to explore collaborative goal setting, co-planning and teaching, and supporting all of the students in your room. You’ll be equipped with additional tools and conversations to deepen partnership...

 

Signature Programs

 
  • children play with their colorful ripped paper collage puppet heads in the air.

    Bridges to Learning

    At the core of Bridges is a belief in the power of learning through an artistic process. This belief has been activated in a rich library of approaches and activities valuable to beginning...
    Bridges for Artists
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    D.E.L.L.T.A.

    With a more complete understanding and a few tricks up their sleeves, Teaching Artists can create a rich learning experience for students who are learning English.
    DELLTA for TAs
  • Artist-holds-up-image-of-joy-parents-and-kids-surround-a-table-with-other-prints-of-images-on-it
    Teach with GIVE

    ArtsConnection is a proud co-creator of GIVE: a free guide that supports Teaching Artists (TAs) in the creation of liberated learning environments and vibrant arts experiences within inclusion settings.

    GIVE Guide
  • an artist stands at the front of the room - joy on their face arms spread wide. Participants sit facing them, there are lots of filled chart papers on the wall.
    Elements of a Liberated Arts Classrooms

    Grow your practices to foster welcoming, affirming, and rigorous learning in the arts by engaging our research-based approaches to create joyful and liberatory environments

    The Arts Connection Framework
 

Custom Workshops

We take our 45 years of knowledge and craft them into programs that specifically meet your goals. All workshops involve hand-on arts experiences, reflection, and participants will leave with access to resources to apply to practice.

 
  • two teachers play with stick puppets in front of their collaged backdrops. Looks of joy all around
    Custom workshops

    Bring ArtsConnection’s Professional Learning Workshops or coaches to your school or site.

    • Contact us at info@artsconnection.org
    • Cost ranges from $200 -$10,000
    • CTLE credit available
  • Teacher stands at front of room holding up a puppet on a stick, around a table filled with handouts, coffee, and art supplies. Other adults sit also holding up puppets.
    Workshops

    We offer full day, half day, and 90 min-2 hour workshop options. We can combine them into series or with additional supports. These are facilitated by our team of expert artists and facilitators. Additionally these can be held in-person, or virtual.

    Sample Workshops
  • one teachers leans in to support another teacher

    Coaching

    One of our facilitators works 1:1 or with small PLCs to deepen teacher practices with arts, and equity strategies.
  • a facilitator stands in front of slides. Teachers gathered at tables with art materials, and curriculum around them

    Curriculum Development

    We can support your team to collaboratively plan how to integrate arts into curriculum, and to select arts activities that enhance current curriculum.
  • A teacher stands at the front of a dance studio. Other teachers sit on the floor listening.

    Intervisitation

    Our team facilitates virtual or in-person intervisitations - including observation protocols, reflection, and engaging in peer learning.
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