The Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education
The Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) is composed of ten neighborhood-based partnerships involving 25 Chicago Public Schools, 50 professional arts organizations, and 18 community organizations. These partnerships are committed to developing innovative approaches to teaching, learning and school improvement through the arts. The neighborhoods are located throughout the city, the student populations are culturally diverse, and the arts organizations range from small, grass-roots organizations involved in specific communities, to large, nationally recognized institutions.
The goal of CAPE is to improve schools by making quality arts education a central part of the daily learning experience of Chicago Public School students. The program seeks to integrate the arts with the overall educational program of schools and create sequential and comprehensive arts experiences that are connected to the curriculum and to learning in the broader school community. The strategy is to forge linkages between neighborhood schools, arts institutions, and community-based organizations, so that all students have opportunities in the arts.
The initiative seeks to improve schools by addressing: 1) the need for classroom teacher participation in the development of arts education programs (including in-depth training, long-term commitment of arts organizations to schools, classroom resources and expertise in integrated curriculum development); and 2) the need for arts-infused curriculum that provides students with participatory experiences (contact with artists in the classroom, parent/child learning opportunities and after-school and summer activities).
Both the schools and the arts organizations are engaged in a rigorous process of examining the role and function of the arts in general school improvement - moving from an enrichment/exposure approach to an integrated curriculum approach that entails learner-centered curriculum, strategic planning, and thoughtful assessment. The arts are no longer delivered, but rather, are co-planned by teachers, artists and parents. During 1997-98 the program is expected to reach 740 classrooms, serve 22,200 students, and utilize the expertise of 145 artists of various disciplines.
For further information contact:
Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education
c/o Marshall Field's
111 N. State Street
11th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Tel: (312) 781-3399
Fax: (312) 781-4604
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