Not all children and students have the opportunity to enjoy the arts in a reliable, easy, and accessible way. For at-risk youths in the 27 surrounding communities, The Springfield Arts Council has founded Growing Up In The Arts, a program that brings week-long arts experiences to schools and organizations with underserved individuals. 

Growing Up In The Arts aims to bring art to youth by using contract-based teachers to deliver week-long arts experiences, whether it be creating art, dancing, pottery, drama, painting, or performance. Children in grades K-8 can experience a balance between hands-on exposure to all art forms, and live experiences such as drama, art galleries, and concerts. 

Growing Up In The Arts helps echo SRAC’s mission by giving a holistic art experience to educate, uplift, and encourage creativity to those who need it most. With weekly curriculum designed around different art literacy foci, teachers weave in interdisciplinary subjects including literature, constructive critiques, as well as reading, writing, and class discussions. Through this program, we aim to instill cultural and academic confidence, as well as a lifetime appreciation of the arts.