Arts|Learning stands as a cornerstone for arts education in Massachusetts, championing the vital role of a comprehensive arts curriculum for every K-12 student across the Commonwealth. We firmly believe that Learning Arts—encompassing dance, media arts, music, drama/theatre, and visual arts—is not just an enrichment but a fundamental component of education. By placing arts at the heart of learning, we equip students with essential 21st-century skills, fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, all crucial for leading fulfilling lives in today’s dynamic world.
As a dedicated non-profit organization, Arts|Learning operates as the Massachusetts arts education alliance, uniting a diverse network of professional arts education organizations, cultural institutions, and public agencies. Our collective mission is to reshape perceptions and bolster support for arts within the public education system. With years of proven experience and recognized expertise, Arts|Learning is deeply committed to enhancing arts education through innovative programming, valuable services, impactful professional development for educators, and effective advocacy efforts.
Advancing Arts Education with Foundational Skills Progressions
Arts|Learning has successfully concluded the third year of its funded partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), focusing on developing comprehensive Arts Foundational Skills Progressions. These progressions serve as invaluable resources for educators, outlining clear pathways for student development in each art discipline.
Building upon the Music and Visual Arts progressions completed in 2022, we proudly introduced the Dance and Theatre progressions in 2023. These are now readily accessible on the DESE Arts website, providing educators with robust frameworks to guide their teaching and assessment practices in these disciplines. Currently, we are pioneering the development of Media Arts Foundational Skills Progressions for 2024-25. This groundbreaking initiative follows a year of in-depth research to define the essence of Media Arts and its pedagogical approaches. Massachusetts is at the forefront of this work, potentially being the only state creating such detailed resources to complement the 2019 Arts Curriculum Framework, further solidifying its commitment to learning arts.
Joining the Arts Access for All Coalition
Recognizing the critical need for equitable funding in arts education, Arts|Learning has proudly joined the Arts Access for All Coalition. This impactful coalition is inspired by California’s Prop 28 and advocates for guaranteed state funding to ensure every student has access to quality arts education. We are committed to this vital initiative and will soon dedicate specific sections of our website to provide updates and resources related to this project, underscoring our dedication to making learning arts accessible to all.
Stay connected with Arts|Learning and the vibrant world of learning arts by following our social media pages for the latest updates, resources, and news.
