Good Morning Educators,

Spring is our busiest and most energizing season, and classrooms are alive with creativity as residencies, workshops, and partnerships continue to bring learning to life through the arts. As schools plan, implement, and reflect on programming during this active time of year, we’re proud to support educators with flexible, accessible arts-integrated opportunities that align with both classroom instruction and school-wide goals.

As an approved Arts in Education vendor with Erie 1 BOCES and Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming (CAEW) BOCES, Arts for Learning WNY offers a streamlined way to bring workshops, residencies, and performances into your school through the BOCES CoSer reimbursement program.

If you’re interested in bringing arts-integrated learning to your classroom or school, we invite you to read about how to access and utilize BOCES funding.

Allison Rabent

Director of Programs

IN-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Arts for Learning Expands Whole School Partnership Program to Niagara Wheatfield

School District

This fall, Arts for Learning WNY expanded its Whole School Partnership Program to Niagara Wheatfield School District, bringing arts-integrated residencies into 6th-grade ELA classrooms.

Teaching Artists collaborated closely with classroom teachers to connect literature with creative practices like Found Poetry and Living Tableaus, helping students engage more deeply with core texts while building confidence, reflection, and expression.

Hear directly from Niagara Wheatfield educators about the impact on their classrooms and learn more about how this curriculum-aligned program supports both academic and social-emotional learning.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Bring the Erie Canal to Life in Your Classroom

Teaching the Erie Canal this year?

Traveling the Erie Canal is an arts-integrated program designed for 4th-grade classrooms, offering hands-on workshops that bring history to life through artifacts, creative writing, storytelling, music, and performance.

Teachers can book a single workshop or create a full residency experience aligned with ELA and Social Studies curriculum.

GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS

Free Wellness Assemblies for Buffalo Public Schools

Arts for Learning WNY is excited to bring our wellness assemblies back to Buffalo Public Schools from February-June 2026!

Designed for elementary, middle, and high school students, these interactive performances support social-emotional learning, encourage respect, and help build a positive school community.

Last fall, these assemblies reached over 4,000 students across 10 schools.

Help Shape the Future of Arts Education -

Join Our Board of Directors

Arts for Learning WNY is looking for passionate, community-minded individuals to join our Board of Directors. Bring your experience, ideas, and energy to help guide our mission and expand arts learning across Western New York!

WHAT EDUCATORS ARE SAYING

"Our school serves a diverse student population, including students with disabilities and a large number of English Language Learners - some classrooms where over 90% of students speak a language other than English. It has always been incredible to see how Teaching Artists are able to thoughtfully differentiate instruction while still guiding every classroom toward the same learning goals. They come prepared, communicate clearly with teachers, and collaborate with us on what we want students to gain from the experience.

Beyond the academic content, the social-emotional learning component has been especially impactful in recent years. The Teaching Artists create a fun, supportive environment that builds student confidence, reduces anxiety, and encourages collaboration and participation.

Our students feel supported and successful, and it’s truly rewarding to see their confidence grow."

-Eileen Englert, 4th Grade ENL Teacher, Waterfront Elementary School

BRING A PROGRAM TO YOUR CLASSROOM

Interested in bringing arts-integrated programming into the classroom? Contact us today and we'll help you identify the type of program that meets your school’s curricular and budgetary needs!

BOOK NOW

SUPPORT ARTS FOR LEARNING WNY

Every child deserves the chance to grow through the arts. Your support keeps our programs free or low-cost for schools, ensuring all students have access to arts-integrated programming. Please consider giving today.

MAKE A DONATION TODAY

Our mission is to inspire, expand learning, and strengthen our community through engagement with the arts.