Why Arts in Education?

"James was an introvert.
His shyness was noticable even in his stance. He'd enter a room with his head down and shoulders slumped. His confidence was lacking.

But then, James opened his mouth to sing, releasing a beautiful tenor voice he never knew he had. And as James continued to sing,
the shyness and insecurity melted away."

The transformation for James, from shy introvert to confident young man, did not happen overnight but occurred over a course of weeks when a professional artist was in residence at his high school. The artist and classroom teacher designed a residency for senior high choir students that integrated music history, theory, math, voice and body physiology.

James is lucky; he was able to work with a professional artist in a residency experience to develop his confidence and a positive self-esteem. He now walks into EVERY room with a smile, his shoulders back and his head held high.

Read more about the Arts in Education Partnership.

Apply for up to $5,000 for community arts projects in Erie County. Read more about Arts Council Project Grants.

Get Connected!

Stay in the Arts Council loop! Sign up to find out about upcoming events, get the latest news, and connect to Erie's arts community! Click here.

In our 2007-2008 fiscal year, the Arts Council of Erie distributed over half a million dollars in grants. Your support makes this possible!

View a complete list of our grant recipients here.