The Fund for Public Schools: Supporting NYC Public Schools

Expanding Quality Arts Education
The arts are a fundamental element of a robust and well-rounded education. Not only does art help students hone their observational and expressive skills – it also prepares them for success by cultivating creative thinking and innovation, qualities that are increasingly in demand across a range of career paths.

The Fund is deeply committed to supporting the New York City Department of Education in providing New York City public school communities – students, teachers, school leaders, and parents – with information and resources that will enable every student to achieve a comprehensive arts education. Fulfillment of this mission will lead students to discover the lifelong enjoyment and wonder inherent in the arts, and will connect them to arts institutions and organizations that exhibit and perform the arts.

To make high quality arts education for each student a reality, The Fund has raised funding to support a range of initiatives – from the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts , which provides a sequential, citywide curriculum in the visual arts, music, dance, and theater, to Arts SPACE (Supporting Performing Arts and Creative Education) grants that enable schools to revitalize their performance facilities with tools like new stage curtains and sound and lighting equipment. Some of the other arts education initiatives we have supported include:

Summer Arts Institute
The Fund has raised private funding to support the Summer Arts Institute (SAI), a comprehensive program that provides students with access to quality arts education programs, cultural resources, and tools that would otherwise be unattainable. SAI is a free, four-week program for New York City public school students entering grades 8-12.

Held at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, SAI is administered by the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Arts & Special Projects and is supported by both public and private funds. SAI offers a unique opportunity for over 200 talented students to work directly with Department of Education arts specialists, partnering cultural organizations, and guest artists. The experienced staff of both teachers and artists guide students in building a portfolio or audition skills for their next level of study: a specialized high school, college, university, or conservatory.

At SAI, students major in dance, drama, instrumental music, vocal music, film, photography, or visual art. A typical daily schedule includes studio work and experiences with professional artists, both on and off-site. In the studios, students hone their technical skills and creative expression in their selected art form. In addition, students have opportunities to attend rehearsals and performances, visit professional arts venues, and explore potential career pathways. Students perform and display original work throughout the program, and the Institute culminates with a student visual art and photography exhibit and a live performance for families and the local community, celebrating the summer achievements of all participating students. To learn more about SAI and to apply for the upcoming summer program, click here .

“In SAI you can be yourself…It’s really special that we can all come together as teens and as artists.”

- Drama Studio Participant

“I enjoyed being exposed to so many different people from all over the city, as well as the enriching arts experience and wonderful trips. I love SAI!”

- Vocal Music Participant

“Great people coming together to create great work. The best aspect of the program was the students’ performance. The level of sophistication was stunning and the dedication of students and teachers was clearly evident in every piece…The lessons learned through the Summer Arts Institute are the kind that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.”

- Parent of Drama Studio Student

The Madison Avenue Gallery Walk
The Summer Arts Institute is funded in part through the Madison Avenue Gallery Walk. The Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, one of our dedicated community partners, has hosted the Gallery Walk since 2008 to benefit arts education through The Fund.

This special event highlights the world-renowned galleries located along Madison Avenue and adjacent side streets. For one Saturday each May, dozens of galleries – representing a veritable “who’s who” in the art gallery world – open their doors and welcome a range of visitors, from the avid collector to the new art enthusiast. For attendees looking for a rich learning experience, the Walk also features guided gallery tours led by some of New York City’s dynamic public school art teachers. The tours provide an unparalleled opportunity to experience a diverse array of artwork, from Picasso's masterpieces to Inuit and Northwest Coast ceremonial artifacts.

The Gallery Walk also features opportunities to meet exhibiting artists and attend a series of talks by curators and artists on their current collection, creating a highly interactive experience between the gallery community and the viewing public. Another important element of the Walk is a special exhibition of outstanding student artwork, showcasing the budding artistic talent in our schools. This memorable experience affords the next generation of artists a unique chance to see their work alongside the masterpieces of yesterday and today.

Each participating gallery makes a contribution to The Fund to support the Summer Arts Institute, demonstrating a significant investment in a new generation of young artists. And for New Yorkers, the Gallery Walk is a great opportunity to spend the day exploring this vibrant artistic haven while supporting arts education in our city’s schools.

Giorgio Armani Arts Grant
In 2009, Mr. Armani gave the largest single gift for arts education to The Fund to date. His donation supported innovative arts programs at public schools in the south Bronx, but the impact of his generosity was felt across the city. One particularly compelling example is featured below. A visual arts teacher and her students in Staten Island sent thank-you notes to Mr. Armani for supporting the arts, and he framed the cards for his home office in Milan. Meet the teacher and her students behind this touching story:

District 75’s Everyday Arts for Special Education (EASE) Program
The New York City Department of Education’s District 75 serves 23,000 students with severe disabilities throughout the five boroughs in schools and programs that provide targeted educational, vocational, and behavioral supports. In August 2010, District 75 was awarded an Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) development grant for $4.6 million from the U.S. Department of Education to expand its EASE program. The EASE program is based on a previous research grant with children on the autism spectrum which produced compelling evidence that integrated arts instruction can help address core communication and socialization deficits. The EASE program uses integrated arts-based instruction to improve student achievement in the areas of communication, socialization, academic skills and arts proficiency. Because many of these students are kinesthetic learners who learn by doing, they are more engaged when they are moving and doing hands-on activities. Arts-based instruction provides multiple entry points for these special learners by using rich, participatory, experiences that better support their achievement.

The i3 development grant provides capacity to extend and expand this successful concept to students across all disabilities and to their teachers. With this grant, District 75 will implement the EASE program over 5 years to serve over 40,000 students with special needs across the city and beyond, strengthening the use of arts-based education at their schools for generations to come. The i3 grant required a private matching component, which The Fund helped to secure. You can hear the program's director speak more about EASE here .