Advocating for the arts in education is more important than ever. Since 2022, ArtsNOW has partnered with Arts Grow SC and the South Carolina Arts Commission to bring arts-integrated learning to schools across South Carolina, impacting more than 10,090 students in the state. In this Q&A, Executive Director of the South Carolina Arts Alliance Jeff Robinson shares his perspective on what we can do to ensure creative learning remains a priority.

With over a decade of experience as an arts educator and administrator, Jeff has dedicated his career to expanding access to arts education and supporting policies that empower students and teachers. His work has spanned from directing award-winning school music programs to shaping statewide arts initiatives through leadership roles at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, the SC Arts Alliance, and Palmetto State Arts Education. As a lifelong musician and advocate, he brings a unique perspective on the power of the arts to transform learning.

Q: From the band room to the boardroom: How has your journey as a music educator shaped the way you advocate for arts-integrated learning today?

Jeff: The SCAA's mission covers the whole creative sector, but I think I'm always at my strongest when I'm advocating for arts education. What's great is that arts education paves the way for all of the messages I bring about the entire industry -- whether we're talking about jobs, the creative economy, or even the role that creativity plays across other sectors. My journey as a music educator has proven to be very valuable because I can always advocate from a place of personal experience.

When I'm speaking with educators, I can establish a certain amount of trust because I've been in their shoes. When I advocate for arts-integrated learning, I talk about the joys and success that students experienced in the band room and say confidently that I want every teacher in every subject to have access to that kind of classroom experience. My wife is also a band director, so it still remains personal to me.

Q: In your work with the SC Arts Alliance and Palmetto State Arts Education, you’ve had a front-row seat to policy and advocacy efforts. What’s one misconception about arts education policy that you wish more educators and community leaders understood?

Jeff: As a topline issue, there is very little difference between "arts education policy" and "education policy" because a policy that impacts educators, schools, and classrooms will, by default, impact arts educators/education.

What I want to make sure educators and leaders understand is that most of the time, we're just advocating for the arts to be considered in policy decisions. If there are changes to the way the school day is structured, make sure there are no unintended outcomes for arts learning. When new funding streams are unlocked, be sure that the arts are specifically mentioned, so administrators know that they can (and should) use those funds for arts integration across the curriculum or to support arts programs and educators.

I used to talk to legislators a lot as a band director whenever there was a discussion about adding new testing requirements to make sure they knew the negative impact that "testing season" was having on my classroom environment or my ability to prepare for performances at the end of the year. It's really important that they hear all potential consequences, but especially from arts educators.

Q: If arts integration were a superhero, what problem would it be solving in education today, and how would it defeat the villain?

Jeff: Student engagement. The research on this is clear. Students who are more engaged in learning will experience better outcomes -- pick whatever measure you'd like. What's even better is that this is not new research. It's been demonstrated time and time again by those willing to try it.

The "villain" is definitely not the policymakers or the education leaders. It's the misconception that we tackle the deficiencies in our current education system, and then we can devote resources to the arts. But that's just not the case. We can tackle those issues through the arts. Arts integration works alongside math, science, English, and social studies standards, so we don't even have to take away from those in order to support arts learning.

So, how does the superhero defeat the villain? Dispel that misconception by creating opportunities for decision-makers to experience arts integration firsthand. Talk only goes so far because the power of the arts is meant to be experienced.

Q: If you could challenge every school leader to take one action this year to strengthen arts integration in their schools, what would it be—and why?

Jeff: Empower educators by giving them the space to try a different approach.

Send them to a professional learning opportunity. Invite them to collaborate with their colleagues (and with school leaders) by sharing what they've learned. Remove the many pressures that educators experience on a daily basis by allowing them to be creative in how they engage their students. This is how we move the needle.

Q: And finally, a fun one—your cat, Lucky, has a front-row seat to your work. If she could advocate for arts integration in schools, what would her argument be?

Jeff: I like to joke that Lucky is my co-worker when I'm working from home. She'll disappear for hours at a time, but whenever I log onto a Zoom call and she hears other voices, she comes running into the room and jumps on my lap. So Lucky understands that one of the most important goals for any type of advocacy is getting a seat at the table.

But more importantly, Lucky understands the importance of play. Cats are curious, and they learn about the world around them by indulging that curiosity, finding creative solutions to problems, and always finding time to play. The arts promote the joy in playful learning -- not as the opposite of work, but as an engaging, skills-based approach to discovery, creativity, and innovation.

Advocating for arts integration isn’t just about promoting the arts—it’s about reshaping education to better serve students. As Jeff Robinson emphasizes, engagement is the key to meaningful learning, and the arts provide a proven pathway to achieving it. By ensuring that the arts are considered in education policy, empowering teachers with the tools to integrate creative learning, and giving decision-makers firsthand experiences with arts integration, we can break down misconceptions and build a stronger, more effective education system. The arts aren’t an extra—they’re essential.

We are grateful to Jeff Robinson for sharing his insights and for his unwavering commitment to advancing arts education. To connect with Jeff and learn more about his work, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn and visit the SC Arts Alliance’s website here.

A few years ago, Sarah noticed a bare corner in her backyard and decided to plant a tree. She was excited at first, but life got busy, and she watered it only when she remembered. The tree hung on but barely grew, its roots shallow and its leaves sparse. To make it easier, she set up a timer for automated watering, ensuring the tree got what it needed without added hassle.  Slowly, the tree transformed, its roots deepened, and its branches stretched wide, providing shade and beauty for years to come. That is the power of simple, reliable care.

For nonprofits like ArtsNOW, sustaining donations act as that automated watering system, ensuring easy, consistent support. ArtsNOW relies on the generosity of donors, but one-time contributions, while impactful, only keep the tree alive but don’t enable it to thrive. Sustaining monthly donations enable nonprofits to create lasting, transformative change. These regular gifts are the essential water and nutrients for organizational stability, growth, and impact.

Here are seven reasons why giving monthly is the secret to making your donations do more: 

1. Provides Financial Stability

Monthly donations allow nonprofits to forecast their income with greater accuracy, which is crucial for planning and executing long-term programs. Consistent funding ensures that initiatives—such as ArtsNOW’s arts-integrated professional learning—can continue uninterrupted, even during economic downturns or periods of uncertainty.

2. Reduces Administrative Costs

Recurring donations lower the need for constant fundraising efforts. Instead of allocating resources to acquire new donors or launch additional campaigns, nonprofits can focus on delivering programs and maximizing impact. With ArtsNOW, this means more educators and students can benefit from arts education without distraction.

3. Amplifies Impact Over Time

Even small monthly contributions add up significantly over a year. For example, a $25 monthly gift results in $300 annually. When many donors commit to this model, the cumulative impact enables nonprofits like ArtsNOW to expand their reach and deepen their roots in schools and communities.

4. Builds a Stronger Donor Relationship

Monthly giving fosters a deeper connection between donors and the causes they support. Sustaining donors feel like true partners in the mission, receiving regular updates and seeing the ongoing impact of their contributions. This connection encourages long-term engagement and advocacy for the nonprofit.

5. Enables Innovation and Growth

Knowing there is a steady stream of income gives nonprofits the confidence to innovate and pilot new programs. For ArtsNOW, this means exploring creative ways to bring arts into classrooms, from hosting events to creating arts-integrated resources that inspire both teachers and students.

6. Makes Giving Easy and Flexible

Monthly donations are convenient for donors, spreading their contributions over time rather than requiring a larger one-time commitment. Automated giving ensures that support continues seamlessly, allowing donors to take something off their to-do list.

7. Empowers Donors to Make a Difference

When donors give, they experience the joy of knowing they are helping others. In a world where the challenges often feel overwhelming, a small monthly donation can spark significant change. For a teacher or a student impacted by ArtsNOW’s work, that consistent gift means resources, inspiration, and engagement that otherwise wouldn’t exist. And for the donor, it’s a powerful reminder that their generosity has a direct and meaningful impact, proving that even small actions can create profound ripples of change.

Grow With Us

“Monthly donors are the roots that allow our mission to grow and flourish,” shares Pamela Walker, President and CEO of ArtsNOW. “Their consistent support is like water for a tree—it keeps us strong and enables us to provide life-changing arts education to teachers and students.”

Your monthly gift nurtures creativity and learning. Become a sustaining donor today and help plant the seeds of opportunity for tomorrow.

The 2025 ArtsNOW Principals' Network Conference was an inspiring gathering of education leaders committed to transforming learning through the arts in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina. This year’s event brought together passionate principals, expert speakers, and advocates for a day of collaboration, innovation, and celebration.

Kicking off the day, David A. Dik, National Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, delivered a powerful keynote, reminding principals that arts integration is not just about creativity—it’s about engagement, equity, and student success. His message set the tone for a day filled with insightful sessions, where principals learned from experienced peers and experts about building, sustaining, and advocating for arts-integrated education.

The energy and passion in the room sparked meaningful discussions and a renewed commitment to the power of arts in education. Throughout the day, principals engaged in expert-led sessions designed to provide practical strategies, real-world insights, and fresh perspectives on integrating the arts into their schools. Here are some of the key highlights from our session at this year’s conference!

Sketching a New Vision: Stepping into Leadership of an Established Program

In this session, New Prospect Elementary Principal Briana Wright gave principals advice on stepping into leadership at a school with quality arts programs, helping principals learn to dream big and find their next steps in arts integration. She showed principals how she applied what she learned from ArtsNOW with success at her school. She took principals through her vision of arts integration - one where the parents, teachers, and students are all happy to be a part of an arts-integrated school - and showed them how they can fulfill their visions, too.

Arts Integration is NOT an Initiative

Powder Springs Elementary Principal Kenyatta Frederick used real-world stories and examples to show principals how they can convey the message that arts integration is not just an add-on to instruction - it is a holistic strategy with the power to be transformational. She shared examples from her school, demonstrating how fully integrating the arts into the daily schedule is transforming learning. Through this session, principals were equipped with the knowledge to keep passion and zeal for the arts alive in their teachers and meet district expectations.

Supporting Arts Integration from the District-Level

Director of Visual & Performing Arts for Greenville County Schools Bradley Wingate and Executive Director of Professional Learning and Leadership Development in Fulton County Schools Dr. Brian Keefer took us through ways to remove the boundaries to arts integration and create equitable opportunities for the arts across an entire district. They showed principals an example of a district-level framework for Arts Integration Excellence, helping principals discover structures that support and drive effective arts integration practices.

Beyond the Frame: Communicating Your Success

During this session, ArtsNOW’s Director of Marketing and Development Shenley Rountree showed principals how effective communication can bring a school’s unique story to life and increase visibility and awareness of the excellent work happening at their schools. Shenley helped principals discover how to tailor their messages to captivate families, engage staff, and craft connections with their community. Principals left this session equipped with the proper tools and a framework for communicating arts integration success to both internal and external audiences.

From Elementary to Middle School Integration: Navigating Mindsets and Barriers

In this session, Hesse K-8 Principal Alonna McMullen took principals through many ways to navigate the barriers to integrating the arts that may exist in their school - lack of teacher buy-in, students' fear, and district challenges. By going through real quotes from students, teachers, and parents about arts integration, Alonna showed principals examples of barriers they may face and how they can overcome these mindset barriers. As a result of this session, principals went home with the methods and strategies to change mindsets regarding the benefits of arts integration.

Paint The Path in Year 1: Winning Hearts for the Arts in Education

Ison Springs Elementary Principal Lakasha Lee and Vickery Mill Elementary Karin Alhadeff showed principals how they can paint the path for arts integration at their schools. In this interactive workshop, principals were divided based on their confidence in integrating the arts and discussed individualized solutions for their schools. Thanks to this session, principals were equipped with the knowledge on how to overcome barriers and build a strong foundation for the arts at their school.

Putting Student Well-Being in Arts Integration

This session was led by Lauren Crabtree of Youth Villages Inner Harbor, a psychiatric residential treatment facility with a long-standing partnership with ArtsNOW. She helped principals understand the intersection of student well-being and arts integration. During this season, principals used boomwhackers to represent their feelings and ate candy to understand mindfulness. By diving into the great work at Youth Villages, Lauren highlighted their connection with ArtsNOW and the pure impact that arts integration has when it comes to student well-being.

Refining the Narrative: Using the Data You Have to Show the Strength of Your Arts Programming

Dalisha Shingler, Ph.D, a Research Scientist from the Research, Evaluation, and Measurement Center at the University of South Carolina, took principals through a journey of how to harness data to show the impact of arts education in their schools. She showed principals that by keeping their data in context, they can understand what it truly means and use it to solve challenges. Principals left this session empowered with practical strategies to leverage school climate data, report cards, and district metrics to highlight the value of arts-integrated learning.

The Key Elements to Building and Sustaining an Arts Integrated Elementary School

Angel Oak Elementary Principal Judith Condon helped principals understand ways to build and sustain arts integration at the elementary school level. Using slap bracelets, she brought arts integrated directly into the session and gave principals a year-by-year guide they could use to implement various elements into their school environment. Thanks to this session, principals were equipped with the tools they need to implement a year-to-year plan without making it overwhelming for their school communities.

This year’s Principals' Network Conference was a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and leadership in advancing arts-integrated learning. From practical strategies for overcoming barriers to insights on leveraging data and district-wide support, each session provided tools principals can take back to their schools and communities.

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and keep up with us right here on our website and social media so you don’t miss any details for next year’s Principals’ Network Conference—we can’t wait to see you there!