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You
are here: Filling the Gap in After-School Arts Education
Founded in May 2000 as a nonprofit organization, Arts Corps is dedicated to providing quality after-school arts education classes free to youth, particularly in underserved, low- and middle-income neighborhoods. Our vision is that art has a transforming effect on youth that will have a ripple effect in the community, building communities that are more compassionate and innovative.
Who: Arts Corps is run by a five-person, part-time staff. Three of us also double as teaching artists. We include a current roster of 20 teaching artists, professional artists who we hire part-time to teach our classes.
What: In fall, winter, and spring quarters, we provide after- school classes in a wide array of arts-- drama, music, dance, visual arts, writing -- to K-12 youth. Each class meets twice per week for eight weeks. In this past year, we provided 72 arts education classes free-of-charge to youth.
Where: We bring Arts Corps classes to where children live. Neighborhood facilities that we serve vary from schools to community centers to youth organizations. Our first year, we partnered with six facilities; this year we partnered with 17; next year it looks like the number will be 20-22.
We are supported by a loyal volunteer base of over 90, hundreds of donors, many public agencies, and 15 local and national foundations.
Our program has grown over 100% in our second year. We've doubled the number of students and class hours and almost tripled the number of facilities. With such rapid change, we want to ensure that we remain focused on our goals. To evaluate our progress, we surveyed and interviewed students, parents, teaching artists, and facility coordinators. They provided a wealth of information to let us know how we're doing.
The following report is an excerpt of this study; we believe the results speak to the importance and effectiveness of arts education for young people.
Transforming Lives Through Art. We believe the creative process has a positive, transforming effect. It teaches hope: when children are engaged in creating, they learn that the dimensions of their lives are without limits. Because we see the arts as vehicles for children's growth – in self-confidence, respectful relations with others, and development of learning skills – we measure our success by how much they grow. Our surveys addressed how well we met our goals and objectives for children's growth.
We surveyed 433 students (and interviewed 18 students in-depth), surveyed and interviewed 23 parents, surveyed 17 teaching artists, and surveyed and interviewed 16 facility coordinators. The responses were impressive. For example, selecting the two highest survey categories:
- 92% of students say they feel excited to try new things and be creative
- 79% say they've changed (become more self-confident, etc.) as a result of taking the class
- 93% say they discovered new concepts, skills, or ideas in class
- 86% are interested in taking more Arts Corps classes
Self-confidence: To try new things and take risks; express oneself freely, openly, and honestly; to be aware of one's own creativity; to have more self-discipline
We asked the teaching artists (T) and facility coordinators (F) to indicate changes they see in the students as a whole, and the results are overwhelmingly positive, indicating that many students have grown in significant ways:
Students: None Some Many Try new things and take risks 6% T 94% T 100% F Are aware of their own creativity 44% T 10% T 56% T 90% F Have more self-discipline 50% T 50% T 100% f Work independently 6% T 59% T 14% F 35% T 86% F Are more self-confident 12% T 9% F 88% T 91% F Note: Percentages represent all those responding.
A student in my Hip Hop class wrote very angry and hopeless poems in class. Now his poems reflect confidence and commitment to growth that was never there before. --Rice Baker-Yeboah, Arts Corps Teaching Artist
I've seen a dramatic change in all the kids. They've begun to figure out or at least ask the questions of who they are and where they're going, those kinds of questions. Some, they're beginning to get a clearer picture. That's just tremendous. --Mazvita, Facility Coordinator at Garfield Teen Life Center
I can dance better and I have many new skills. I am stronger not only physically, but emotionally. --Jakki, Arts Corps student at Seattle Girls' School
If I don't like somebody, and I have to work with them to get something done that's really important, I forget about my differences, and I just work with them…It teaches you teamwork. --Adrienne, Arts Corps student at Showalter Middle School
Arts Corps classes are different because you do more and you learn more than other classes.... I want to take more Arts Corps classes so I can be more advanced, so then you can just bring out your ideas and just do it! --Deondre, Arts Corps student at Zion Preparatory Academy
Respect: To increase respect and compassion for others, and emotional self-control
Students learn that art is a collaborative process: "To act, you have to be more cooperative because it's hard to listen and learn how to do the work." (Satori, Arts Corps student at Highpoint YMCA). Teaching artists and facility coordinators noticed an overall improvement in children's respect for others:
Students: None Some Many Have more compassion & respect for others 47% T 53% T 100% F Have more emotional control 53% T 47% T 100% F Have more friends 64% T 36% T 100% F
Learning Development: To become better listeners and observers; become more interested in learning; improve language and communication skills; improve independent problem-solving; increase knowledge of art concepts and skills, and demonstrate these skills
With 93% of all students saying they discovered new concepts, skills, or ideas in class, and 89% of middle/high school students indicating they'd like to advance in their art form, it's not surprising teaching artists and facility coordinators saw the positive results of this interest:
Students: None Some Many Listen better and observe better 50% T 50% T 100% F Are more interested in learning 31% T 69% T 100% F Have better communication skills 7% T 33% T 60% T 100% f Are better at problem-solving 6% T 60% T 40% T Feel art is interesting 13% T 87% T 100% F
Teaching artists also assessed these qualities:
Students: No Yes Learn art concepts and skills related to the class subject? 6% 94% Learn how to use these concepts and skills in assessing their own work and the work of others? 12% 88% Learn how to think critically about art and to talk about works of art in an objective way? 33% 67% Let's say this, art and math, if you put that all together, it's just like you're more better at everything and you won't have any problems. Math is like art and art is like math so then you're doing really good. --Deondre, Arts Corps student at Zion Preparatory Academy
A third grader. . . has sort of a disruptive family life. . . was a shy student, and he had a hard time with homework. And he would hide under the tables when it was time to present poetry. So then, we didn't think he would be able to perform. . . . And that day at SAM, we thought, "We'll give him the chance, see if he'll do it." He got up there, and it didn't even faze him. . . He was amazing. And it was such a positive thing for him because now I think he realizes he can do it. --Lori, Facility Coordinator at Cascade View Elementary
Building Communities Through the Arts. Arts Corps youth are supported by an ever-widening community of parents, teaching artists, facilities, and arts, education, and youth organizations. We envision that as our youth are transformed by art, they will in turn transform our communities. Towards this end, we established program goals and objectives for our relations with parents, teaching artists, facility partners, and organization partners. Here is some data we received from parents, in particular.
Parents: To generate enthusiasm for arts education among parents
Many parents of Arts Corps' students express surprise and delight at their children's demonstrated abilities and growth:
I think [Arts Corps] is really awesome. Since my son has started Arts Corps, he's a lot more outgoing, he's more energetic, and he's doing things he's always wanted to do, but kind of shied away from. He feels free to express himself anyway he likes. --Parent at Arts Corps Showcase event
Here's how parents responded when asked what they think of our program:
No Yes Did your child like the class? 100% Have you noticed any changes in your child? 100% Does your child try new things? 33% 67% Is your child aware of his/her creativity? 11% 89% Does your child feel art is interesting? 22% 78% Is your child more interested in learning? 44% 56% Would you like your child to take more Arts Corps classes? 100% Are you more interested in the arts as a result of your child's experience? 12% 88% Looking ahead
It's been quite a year! We provided 72 arts education classes to 733 students and staged eight public events while still keeping it all together. We're now undergoing a comprehensive review of organizational processes so that we can make necessary adjustments in our third year. Any changes we make will be consistent with our goals and objectives. As one facility coordinator put it, making sure the kids are served is our bottom line. We couldn't agree more.
About the author:Lisa Fitzhugh is founder and Executive Director of Arts Corps, an arts education program targeted at underserved communities in King County. The program has grown over 500% since its inception in 2000 and will serve approximately 2,000 youth this year with a budget of $800,000. Arts Corps received an award from Mayor Nickels at Bumbershoot in 2003 for its "Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education." Lisa Fitzhugh was recently selected as one of Redbook Magazine's 2005 "Mothers and Shakers." Redbook's award recognizes individuals who have created extraordinary grassroots community efforts that have the potential to create national and international models for change. Before starting Arts Corps, Lisa's background was in politics, both on the inside for elected officials and as a consultant. Most recently she worked for Seattle Mayor Paul Schell as an aide on environmental issues. Lisa graduated from Duke University in 1989 with a degree in political science. She is a mother of a four-year old, and her mother is a professional photographer whose influence on her pursuit of this work runs long and deep.
Email Lisa at: lisa@artscorps.org
Note:For a copy of the complete report, please send an email to info@artscorps.org.
© September 2002 New Horizons for Learning
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