December brings the culmination of two of our in-depth artistic residencies: Community Creators in STEAM in Newport News and Arts Adventures in Norfolk, a partnership with FACT, Families of Autism Coming Together.

You can view the creations of these talented students in exhibits open to the public.

Under the guidance of A4L’s James Cooper and art teacher Tiffany Murchison, fifth graders at Newport News’ McIntosh Elementary School worked in teams to design 3D prototypes that addressed social issues using STEAM (Science Technology Education Arts Math) principles. Read more here.

Students have joined together to build a final art piece focused on homelessness—you can view it at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center from December 13 through December 22.

We thank Huntington Ingalls Industries/Newport News Shipbuilding for its support of this innovative STEAM residency!

In Norfolk, middle and high school students with autism created self-portraits and other visual artwork as part of the final year of our Arts Adventures residency. Led by A4L’s Sarah Evans, students have explored the five different social-emotional learning competencies.

Their individual art pieces will be combined to form a collage that will be on display on the first floor of Norfolk City Hall from December 10 to February 2.

Audience members had a rip-roaring, rollicking good time hearing tall tales and stupendous stories from Mark Twain, as portrayed by his alter ego and famous relative, Ryan Clemens!

The performance was the first of our free Family Time Series at the Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach. More programs are scheduled in 2024—register for free tickets for Orisirisi, Roberta Lea, and Sarah Osburn Brady. 

These programs are Z Ticket Bank performances. Funding for these FREE Family Time performances by Arts for Learning comes from the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, Helen G. Gifford Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.

Thanks to the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission for its support of the Family Time Performance Series… and much more!

We’re grateful for your generous support of arts-in-education on behalf of students in Virginia Beach.

Also in Virginia Beach, we’re honored to receive a Human Rights Award from the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission.

Each year the commission recognizes individuals and groups who have helped promote the understanding of cultural diversity, social awareness, and human rights in our community.

We’re so gratified the commission selected Arts for Learning, and we look forward to the ceremony on December 14.

We’re able to serve students, families, and educators because of the dedicated support of people who believe the arts are an essential part of a child’s education. Thank you to our donors. We pledge to use your funds wisely in our mission of inspiring and engaging students in and through the arts.

Being a member of the Arts for Learning Board of Directors can be a rewarding way to give back to our community.

We're looking for accomplished individuals who are committed to our arts-in-education mission. 

Click here for more information about candidates we’re seeking to join our board, or contact Chris Everly at [email protected]!

Now in its 69th year, Young Audiences of Virginia, Inc., doing business as Arts for Learning, is an independent chapter of Young Audiences, Inc., the nation’s leading arts-in-education nonprofit organization and first organization to be awarded the National Medal of Arts.