The Museum of Florida Art collaborated with Mid Florida Community Services Head Start to develop Phase One of the Arts on the Grow program. Arts on the Grow is an arts integration program designed to promote the growth of the whole child by connecting artistic and creative development with a wide range of skills in other areas, including perceptual, cognitive, language, and social skills. Funding for the project was made possible by a grant from the PNC Foundation whose Grow Up Great program provides innovative opportunities that enhance learning and development in a child's early years.

Phase one of the Arts on the Grow program began in January 2012 with three participating Head Start Centers - West Volusia Head Start Center in DeLand, Coleman Head Start Center in Orange City, and Malloy Head Start Center in DeLeon Springs. The program was implemented in eleven classrooms serving approximately 200 students and their families. The comprehensive arts integration program includes: teacher training, Museum visits for the participating Head Start students, teachers and parents, classroom visits from area artists, art reproductions from the Museum's permanent collection and corresponding books and lesson plans, Gallery on the Go backpacks with take home activities, and a culminating Head Start student art exhibition and public celebration on May 30, 2012 at the Museum of Florida Art.