Arts+ Partners With CMS To Expand Access to Arts Education
For decades, Arts+ has been providing high-quality, accessible music and art education to Charlotte’s students. Arts+’s longstanding outreach programs have served CMS students for years, but to continue benefiting our community’s children, Arts+ is expanding its offerings to Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools with a variety of new projects and programs aimed at directly impacting CMS students.
One such expansion project is the participation of Arts+ in the Arts and Science Council’s (ASC) Education Provider Directory. This resource allows educators to search Arts, Science, History, and Heritage education programs available for booking in Mecklenburg County during the school day, all of which adhere to the Common Core State Standards and the North Carolina Essential Standards.
The current programs and activities listed through the Education Provider Directory include the Elementary Arts Lab (EAL), printmaking and bookmaking workshops, and a Studio 345 field trip experience, where students can explore screen printing, light writing, and other mixed media projects at Arts+ Uptown Studios.
“Elementary Arts Lab is an exploratory station-based art program that focuses on literacy, collaborative work, and creative expression using a featured book. Each session starts with a book reading, then provides opportunities to explore connections with students, and then students are given time to explore five art activities at stations that focus on different mediums and art concepts. Stations can focus on nature, the principles and elements of art, collaborative work, 3D creation, and more,” says Caroline Tippette, Director of Visual Art Programs.
During the 2024-2025 school year, several Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools partnered with Arts+ to bring these programs to their students. “We have noticed increased interest and have had excellent feedback and results from the sessions we've held this year,” Caroline states. “Our goals are to provide supplemental art workshops to schools to enhance their current offerings, inspire students and teachers with out of the box thinking for art lessons, promote an interest in literacy for students, and expose more students and teachers to the programs Arts+ offers.”
Additionally, Arts+ is working with CMS to host professional development days for both Arts+ instructors and CMS teachers at the Arts+ Community Campus. Following the full upfit of the space, the campus will provide new avenues for involvement in CMS and the Charlotte community.
In the future, Arts+ will select a few schools in which to provide after-school arts programs. Students would be able to sign up to stay after school to take an art class, participate in the Charlotte Youth Choir, and more, making this a convenient and affordable option for parents who want to provide their children with the opportunity to explore their creativity.
“The hope is that partnering with CMS and being able to offer our programming during and after school will ignite a love for music and arts for the students. With this newfound love, students may then explore other Arts+ programming through private lessons, camps, and classes,” Shane says.