In its second major grant announcement of FY2026, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has named the organizations with projects approved for federal funding through the agency. Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA) and four affiliates from the national YA network were included in the announcement, for an agency-approved amount totaling nearly $200,000.
Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA National Office) – New York, NY
Young Audiences Arts for Learning was awarded $40,000 in funding to support Arts-Related Teaching for Integrated Student Well-being (ARTIST), a national professional development initiative for emerging teaching artists. Through a network of 15 affiliate organizations, teams of emerging teaching artists, mentors, and program managers will participate in training focused on lesson planning, classroom management, arts integration, inclusive teaching practices, and student health and well-being. Participants will apply their learning through in-school arts residencies while receiving individualized coaching from experienced teaching artist mentors. The project will also extend training opportunities to emerging teaching artists outside the YA network, strengthening the arts education field by expanding access to high-quality professional learning and fostering collaboration among teaching artists nationwide.
Arts for Learning Connecticut – Hamden, CT
Arts for Learning Connecticut was awarded $40,000 to support its Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools Program, providing professional development for teachers, administrators, and teaching artists in schools across the state. By engaging with partner institutions, Arts for Learning Connecticut will offer workshops focused on whole-school, arts-integrated teaching and learning strategies, with training tailored to fit each school's specific context and district-directed curriculum. In recognition of America's 250th anniversary, artistic content will explore the American story and honor the nation's rich artistic and cultural heritage.
Arts for Learning Massachusetts – Boston, MA
Arts for Learning Massachusetts was awarded $25,000 to support Expanding Horizons through Music, an early childhood literacy and music program serving under-resourced communities in the greater Boston area. With the goal of helping to close the kindergarten preparedness gap, teaching artists will provide weekly music lessons to pre-school students at partner sites using music concepts to support music and early literacy skills. Classroom teachers will participate in professional development, with parents and caregivers receiving additional resources that can be used to reinforce music concepts with students at home.
Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) – Chicago, IL
CAPE was awarded $60,000 to support an arts integration professional development program for teachers and teaching artists serving Chicago Public School students, with a focus on schools in under-resourced neighborhoods. Through after-school professional development workshops, educators study curriculum design, assessment strategies, and multimedia documentation techniques. Teams of teachers and teaching artists will improve their skills throughout the school year by co-planning and implementing arts-integrated lessons in the classroom. As a culmination, teachers and teaching artists will design an exhibition of their students' work to share with families and the public.
Young Audiences of Houston – Houston, TX
Young Audiences of Houston was awarded $30,000 to support an arts integration initiative that benefits students from underserved communities in rural Texas, along with their educators and families. Through partnerships with rural school districts, the program will deliver artist residencies and community performances that align with Texas and United States history curricula. In recognition of America250, teaching artists will provide hands-on experiences that celebrate the nation's heritage while building creativity and critical thinking skills in students. Workshops and community showcases will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, engaging youth and families in celebrating shared history.
