The Artists in Education Arc Program

The Artists in Education Arc Program (Arc) is an opportunity for schools who have successfully completed two years of AIE residencies to build a sustainable arts culture within their schools. Schools will be guaranteed three years of funding, pending funding of the AIE program by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. This structure will aid the school in creating more opportunities for arts experiences for their students and faculty. Upon competition of year three, Arc schools will enter a mentor year where they will support, guide, and help prepare new AIE schools to apply for and manage an AIE residency.

"Art has been a vehicle for the change in the culture of this school."

- Nelson Alvarez, Art Teacher, Sussex Avenue School

Arc is a great opportunity for schools to:

  • Create a sustainable culture of arts experiences within your school
  • Build a structure of financial independence from AIE grants
  • Create lasting connections to the arts and the greater school community
  • Invest in more in-depth professional learning experiences for staff and faculty

Additional benefits include: 

  • Modified applications for Years 2 and 3
  • Governor's Award in recognition of your commitment to artists in residence (upon completion of Year 3)
  • Mentor opportunities for new AIE schools
Teaching artist Erik James Montgomery creates a mobile photography studio with students from Bradley Beach Elementary School.

Teaching artist Erik James Montgomery creates a mobile photography studio with students from Bradley Beach Elementary School.

To build sustainability for artists in residence within your school, Arc schools will provide a financial contribution to the artist fees related to the AIE residency. Financial support for the residency ($2000 minimum in materials, substitute teacher fees, support component, etc.) will also be funded by the school.

AIE Artist Fee Match:

  • Year 1 - no Artist Fee Match
  • Year 2 - $2500 Artist Fee Match, to be billed directly to the school
  • Year 3 - $3500 Artist Fee Match, to be billed directly to the school

"These projects raise our school's profile in the community and help earn us the reputation of being a place where interesting and dynamic things are happening, where we foster a culture of the arts. This generates a lot of pride for staff and students. Graduated students often return and talk about their emotional connection and engagement with the school and the arts within the context of past grants."

- Kirsty Sucato, English Language Arts Teacher, Bradley Beach Elementary

Students at Bradley Beach Elementary School practice bachata with their dance partners.
Students at Bradley Beach Elementary School practice bachata with their dance partners.
Teaching artist Kit Sailer applies a cast to a student's face at Sussex Avenue School, Newark.
Teaching artist Kit Sailer applies a cast to a student’s face at Sussex Avenue School, Newark.
Students work with their portraits at Bradley Beach Elementary School.
Students work with their portraits at Bradley Beach Elementary School.

Sussex Avenue students paint sections of their playground mural on parachute cloth that will later be attached to the exterior of the school building.
Sussex Avenue students paint sections of their playground mural on parachute cloth that will later be attached to the exterior of the school building.
Students teach community members how to create giving bowls at Bradley Beach Elementary School.
Students teach community members how to create giving bowls at Bradley Beach Elementary School.
Students at Sussex Avenue School stand in front of a playground mural created during an AIE residency.
Students at Sussex Avenue School stand in front of a playground mural created during an AIE residency.