Mission
Mission: With its diverse roster of artists, Arts for Learning Connecticut engages people of all ages and abilities in learning creatively through the arts.
Vision: We envision people of all ages and abilities in CT actively participating in the arts, regardless of economic background. Arts for Learning CT serves as an essential resource for arts engagement in the state. Arts for Learning Connecticut's professional teaching and performing artists spread their artistic expertise in multiple disciplines to stimulate life long learning and creativity. Our work transforms the public's understanding of the value of the arts as an active and natural part of everyone's life and life-long learning.
Needs
1. Increase contributed income from corporate and foundation grants, and individual donations, to continually provide high-quality arts programming to underserved communities throughout Connecticut. $50,000
2. Increase Board capacity for quality governance and financial oversight.
3. Increase venues to host artists and arts programming to meet the need of all learning abilities, including: Pre-K - Grade 12 schools, libraries, community centers, pediatric hospitals; and to offer a variety of arts options, including: performances, workshops, residencies, and after-school programs.
4. Development of family engagement programming to positively impact reading readiness and literacy. $15,000
5. Obtain new equipment for the implementation of visual arts programming. Specifically we need new ipad pros and Apple pencils. $8,500.
6. Increase volunteer base to help set-up and break-down performance events, and to help at our signature fundraising events.
CEO Statement
For the past 20 years, I have been associated with Arts for Learning Connecticut. I have witnessed tremendous growth in our programming statewide and in the depth of educational impact that arts programming has on children, teachers and families and people of all abilities. We have developed lifelong learning programs for our elder learners and developed professional training for our master teaching artists as well as entered into partnerships with schools to embed artists in their daily curriculum.
AFLCT is unique because it brings professional artists together with children, teachers and families so that learning takes place around the state in numerous locations. AFLCT is the only organization in the state that is devoted solely to arts and education. Our artists reach children in 65% of the towns and cities in Connecticut annually impacting over 250,000 children. The past years have been difficult ones as arts education funding has been slashed in our schools, making it all the more imperative that we aggressively seek funding and partnerships to insure that our programming continues in schools and communities.
Our roster is a diverse group of teaching artists that are artistically excellent who have all created programming-performances, workshops and residencies that incorporate core curriculum standards in literacy, math, social studies and science. Our artists represent the best in all the arts disciplines-music, dance, theater, storytelling, literary and visual arts.
Board Chair Statement
My first five minutes witnessing a teaching artist interact with a child convinced me: Arts for Learning Connecticut programs transform lives. When a teaching artist has connected with a student, the look of acknowledgement and appreciation of the power of the arts as a learning tool is immediately evident. AFLCT's gifted artists convey the importance of the arts in shaping our perspective on the world.
With a growing number of programs tailored for adults as well as children, Arts for Learning Connecticut is truly the premier organization in CT for providing robust arts education programs for the public. Our distinguished roster of teaching and performing artists translate their talents into valuable and influential teaching methods that unleash the creativity that dwells within us all. That's just the first step. To ensure that the arts remain integrated into the lives of those touched by the organization, AFLCT is the leading expert for training teachers and community leaders on how to integrate the arts into their curriculum.
For almost 35 years, AFLCT has built a reputation as a valued community partner to enhance education through the arts for people of all ages. Your support is vital in ensuring that AFLCT can continue its important mission of supporting the arts as a precious discipline that fosters creativity and lifelong learning.