DECEMBER 8, 2025 – New York, NY – Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA), the nation’s largest arts in education network, has been awarded a $4.4 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education’s Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program to launch ARTISTIC (America Responds To In-School Teaching with Innovation and Creativity), a five-year national initiative to expand arts-integrated learning in high-need public schools serving students from low-income communities and students with disabilities across the country
Spearheaded by the National Office of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, the ARTISTIC initiative will support classroom teachers and teaching artists in co-developing custom arts-integrated residencies anchored in iconic American artworks across visual and performing disciplines. These in-school residencies aim to increase student engagement and deepen learning in subjects such as English language arts, history, and social studies, while fostering stronger civic connection and cultural literacy.
Over the five-year grant period, ARTISTIC will reach at least 12,000 students, 600 classroom teachers and school staff, and 300 teaching artists across the U.S. In addition to residencies, the program includes robust supports: 50+ hours of annual professional development for teaching artists, peer learning communities, school-based staff training, and partnerships with regional cultural organizations.
The program incorporates principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and builds on YA’s Artistic Teaching Principles to ensure greater access and inclusion, especially for students with disabilities and students living in poverty.
Young Audiences of Louisiana will lead the inaugural pilot site, with plans to scale across 15 affiliate and partner organizations nationwide. An independent evaluation will inform continuous improvement and contribute findings to a national resource library.
“ARTISTIC allows us to build on the success of our current RAISE initiative and go even deeper,” said David A. Dik, National Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning. “By grounding residencies in American artworks and aligning with UDL principles, we’re creating classroom experiences where every student feels seen, supported, and engaged.”
ARTISTIC was selected for funding under the U.S. Department of Education’s Assistance for Arts Education program, which supports professional learning, instructional material development, and strategic partnerships that broaden access to high-quality arts education in schools.
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Questions about ARTISTIC? Please contact Melissa Gawlowski Pratt, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Network Relations, at melissa@ya.org.
About Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Founded in 1952, Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA) is the nation’s oldest and largest arts in education network, reaching nearly five million children and youth each year through a national network of 30 affiliates across 28 states. Working in partnership with approximately 4,700 teaching artists and 86,000 educators, YA provides students, particularly those in high-need schools and communities, with high-quality arts experiences that support creative expression, deepen learning in other academic subjects, and foster the skills young people need to succeed in school and in life.
