Arts

The Heckscher Foundation believes that the primary arena for excellent arts education is the classroom, and that arts organizations should work consistently and strategically in schools and with teachers, understanding the demands of existing curricula and official standards. In superior programs, teachers and artists work together closely and over time so that, eventually, partner teachers consider themselves artists and participating artists consider themselves teachers.

Programs should be able to demonstrate how participation helps to further the Foundation’s mission to “level the playing field” by providing exposure to and experience in the arts for children who might not have such opportunities.

The Foundation is particularly interested in programs that lead to increased knowledge about the arts and positive behavior outcomes through the arts such as:

  • Increased school performance as a result of integration of arts education
  • Literacy skill-building
  • Acquisition of arts skills
  • Avoidance of risk and problem behaviors

 Grantees

 
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