What is Arts in Education?

Arts in Education (AIE), or arts-based learning, is the idea that greater understanding as well as more sustained knowledge can be achieved through the integration of arts into the curriculum.

Why integrate?

There are many reasons. For one, AIE practitioners believe that the infusion of the arts into several subjects or disciplines creates a "whole" standards-based curriculum by utilizing higher-level thinking skills across the curriculum while also preparing students for the challenges of state testing.

How do I begin?

Now you’re thinking! Most AIE projects involve partnerships between schools, school districts, teaching artists and/or cultural organizations starting at the local level. Through several organizations across the state, funding and technical assistance is available to get you started.

AIE Funding Framework:

• Local Capacity Building(LCB)
• The Local Capacity Building Initiative is an AIE regrant program supported by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and administered in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and Warren Counties by the Adirondack Arts in Education Partnership (AAIEP) – that’s us!
• Projects involved 3-5 contact sessions between core group of students and teaching artist and participating teachers who utilize a co-teaching method to integrate art into the curriculum
• “New to AIE? Start with LCB!”

• New York State Council on the Arts(NYSCA) – the big leagues!
• Have previous AIE experience? Interested in school-wide reform? Ready to take on AIE in a big way? If so, go directly to NYSCA!
• NYSCA is home to several types of grant possibilities including Arts in Education and more specifically for funding through its Empire State Partnership (ESP)program. Check it out!

 
For More Funding Information – see Grants! Section

Confused? Need some help?

• Check out our Helpful AIE Definitions and AIE Acronyms pages to help you sort through the AIE “Alphabet Soup!”

OR

• Contact the AAIEP Coordinator who is always ready and willing to help!