Arts Corps

Programs: Highline creative schools initiative: arts corps is working with four schools in the highline school district to provide integrated arts learning in language arts as part of a research project with the u. S. Department of education. Teaching artists work in partnership with classroom teachers to develop and implement project-based lesson plans that integrate the arts with core subject areas while developing students creative capacities. This program is designed to strengthen the learning environment and expand teacher capacity to engage students creatively. In 2016-2017 this program served 591 students. The typical class met for 12 hours per semester. Research to date indicates this program is positively impacting quality of teaching strategies, academic mindsets and behaviors, and academic performance.

hip hop artist residency: the hip hop artist residency (hhar) is a collaboration between arts corps, mopop and macklemore & ryan lewis that aims to launch a new arts education and youth development platform that will engage underserved and at-risk teens in the seattle region. Over the course of three weeks in the summer of 2016, 44 youth participated in a 90-hour residency led by local and visiting teaching artists, culminating in student-produced eps of their work and a live public performance. Subsequently, these youth participated in 4 cyphers that met monthly for a total of 12 hours to practice and improve performance skills.

teen arts program: arts corps provides after-school arts instruction and leadership training to teens in south seattle and south king county. The program is designed to provide teens with leadership and creative thinking skills needed to meet the challenges of adulthood. Students receive arts instruction in the areas of music, poetry and dance with select students developing their leadership skills through hands-on organizing of student outreach, performance and event management. In 2016-2017, the teen artist program provided 278 students with instruction. The typical class met for 16 hours over one quarter. This program also offered internship opportunities, leadership training, and opportunities to perform in a spoken work poetry slam, open mic or break dance battle. From across the city, over 5000 people attended these events.