Staying Connected, Staying Engaged, Ready for the New School Year!

#WeAreArtsConnected #AlwaysConnected

During a summer unlike any other, ArtsConnection did not break its stride, continuing to provide engaging digital opportunities linking children and teens to art sessions across the disciplines. Building on the rigorous spring Think Tanks, which convened 74 teaching artists and the entire program and administrative staffs to create, reflect on, and carry out remote content during and after the school day, 13 of those teaching artists across arts disciplines were charged with devising remote learning opportunities during July and August. Divided into grade-level teams—early childhood, upper elementary, and middle school—they expanded, refined, and field-tested synchronous and asynchronous programming, engaging youngsters from our school partners across the city. Parallel to that work, our two teaching artists instructing the Teen Reviewers and Critics’ summer program, Map Free City, invited high school students on journeys across NYC’s 5 boroughs to explore and discuss performances and exhibitions. The remote content provided by so many arts venues was used as the basis for their discussions and critiques this summer.

We are excited to share the new version of our In-School Programs Catalog, with residency descriptions and accompanying video snippets.  

If you are affiliated with an NYC public elementary, middle or high school—an administrator, teacher or parent; a staff member of a community-based organization providing services after school; or a friend and supporter of ArtsConnection who would like to underwrite any of the many residencies which we have been adapting to provide live remote and on-demand learning during this time of fiscal duress for public education, please do not hesitate to reach out to talk with our Executive Director, Rachel Watts (), or Director of In-School Programs, Kelly Donovan (d).

ArtsConnection’s aim is always to engage students in developing new skills and provide much-needed arts and social-emotional learning opportunities, whether schools remain shuttered, limit building access, or move to a blended model of in-person and remote learning.

Preview teaching artist Justin Salud’s
asynchronous remote lesson below!

Hip Hop Dance teaching artist Justin Salud demonstrates some of the dance moves he teaches, and asks 3rd, 4th and 5th graders to consider elements of dance by identifying the lines and shapes created by dancing bodies in motion.