ArtsNOW is proud to announce the award of a $3.98 million Assistance for Arts Education grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support a new initiative to strengthen early literacy through arts integration. The five-year project, Expanding Creativity in Early Literacy through Arts Integration (EXCEL), will run from October 2025 through September 2030.

ArtsNOW was one of only five organizations nationwide selected to receive this highly competitive federal award. As a nationally recognized nonprofit in arts integration, ArtsNOW will lead the project across multiple states, expanding its impact in elementary schools through research-based literacy strategies that connect the arts with core academic instruction.

The project will partner with six schools across three regions: Fulton County Schools in Georgia; Jefferson County Schools in Alabama; and Spartanburg 1 School District in South Carolina.

“Literacy is foundational to every child’s success,” said Pamela Walker, President and CEO of ArtsNOW. “This grant allows us to deepen our work with teachers and demonstrate how arts integration can strengthen reading and writing instruction while increasing student engagement and confidence.”

A Creative Approach to Literacy Learning

Through EXCEL, ArtsNOW will work closely with educators to integrate the arts into daily literacy instruction. Teachers will participate in sustained, job-embedded professional learning that includes one-on-one coaching and reflection, lesson modeling, collaborative planning, and arts-integrated lesson development and demonstration.

School leaders will also engage in professional learning designed to strengthen their understanding of, and support for, integrated learning. All work aligns with state and national academic standards and emphasizes inquiry-based learning.

Students participating in the EXCEL project will experience literacy instruction that connects reading and writing with visual arts, music, dance, and theatre. These strategies help students build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, and develop critical thinking skills while making learning more engaging.

The initiative is designed to achieve four key outcomes. The project seeks to increase the percentage of students reading on grade level and scoring proficient or higher on state Reading and Language Arts assessments. It will increase teachers’ confidence in, and use of, arts-integrated instructional strategies. The initiative will also build the leadership capacity of principals and district staff to sustain arts-integrated learning. Finally, teacher leaders will develop more than 400 arts-integrated literacy lessons to share with educators beyond the participating schools.

Building Capacity for Long-Term Impact

EXCEL includes six elementary schools, with more than 120 teachers participating each year in at least 72 hours of professional learning and coaching. In addition, 36 teacher leaders and six principals will participate in more than 100 hours of arts-integrated professional learning, resource development, coaching, and professional networking.

Through these efforts, participating educators will strengthen literacy instruction for more than 4,000 students over the life of the grant.

Digital resources developed during the project will expand the reach of the work beyond participating schools. Lesson units, video demonstrations, and professional learning materials will be made available to educators seeking practical ways to integrate the arts into literacy instruction.

The EXCEL project builds on ArtsNOW’s nationally recognized model for arts integration and represents another major step in expanding access to creative, high-quality learning experiences for students across the Southeast.

ArtsNOW, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is launching its “Donate $26 in ’26” campaign this March, with a goal of raising $26,000 to expand its free digital resource library, a growing hub of arts-integrated lessons used by educators, students, and families around the world.

The campaign will kick off March 16th and run through March 20, 2026.

The Impact of Strong Classroom Resources

Across the education landscape, teachers are increasingly expected to personally purchase lesson plans, subscriptions, and classroom resources to meet instructional demands. This is an unsustainable model that disproportionately affects schools with limited funding and contributes to teacher burnout and attrition. ArtsNOW offers free and accessible high-quality, research-based instructional tools that are not gated behind paywalls or dependent on a teacher’s personal income or a school’s budget.

The impact of these resources is reflected in classrooms across Georgia. “I love the ready-made lessons on the ArtsNOW website. It’s so helpful having a list of activities I can start with in my classroom!” said a first-grade teacher at an ArtsNOW partner school.

8 out of 10 teachers are more likely to stay in the profession when supported by ArtsNOW, including access to engaging, classroom-ready arts-integrated tools.(University of South Carolina Research, Evaluation, and Measurement Center, 2025). In a time of widespread teacher shortages, improving access to effective instructional resources an essential infrastructure for a stable education system.

The Need for Support

The five-day campaign invites supporters to contribute $26 in support of ArtsNOW’s mission to strengthen literacy, critical thinking, and student engagement through free arts-integration resources. Funds raised during the campaign will directly support the continued growth and accessibility of ArtsNOW’s online resource library, which provides standards-aligned lesson plans, integrated units, video modules, and Creativity Task Cards. These tools are available at no cost and are used by educators in classrooms, after-school programs, and home learning environments.

“Educators are seeking practical, research-backed strategies that engage students while reinforcing academic standards,” said Pamela Walker, President & CEO of ArtsNOW. “This campaign ensures that high-quality arts-integrated resources remain accessible and continue to expand.”

ArtsNOW directs 90 cents of every dollar donated to mission-driven programming, maximizing the impact of individual contributions. In addition to one-time gifts of $26, supporters are encouraged to consider setting up $26 monthly donations to provide sustained funding for resource development and distribution.

Since 2006, ArtsNOW has been a leader in professional learning for educators, equipping teachers with innovative strategies that seamlessly integrate the arts into their daily instruction. Through hands-on learning, customized resources, and classroom partnerships, ArtsNOW helps educators transform traditional lessons into engaging, interactive learning experiences that enhance comprehension, critical thinking, and student success across all subjects.

To date, ArtsNOW has collaborated with 616 schools across 71 school districts, reaching 99,212 educators and impacting more than 448,900 students throughout the Southeast. Through this campaign, ArtsNOW aims to expand its free digital resource library and grow impact on a global scale.

To learn more or to contribute to the Donate $26 in ’26 campaign, visit:
https://artsnow.betterworld.org/campaigns/26-in-26

About ArtsNOW

ArtsNOW is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit with more than twenty years of experience transforming lives through customized solutions to meet educational needs, utilizing arts integration and innovative strategies. ArtsNOW partners with schools to integrate visual arts, dance, music, and theatre across all academic subjects, and connect these practices to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to advance STEAM learning. Through research-based strategies, ArtsNOW equips educators, engages students, and drives measurable academic growth.

[March 3, 2026] ArtsNOW has been selected as a recipient of the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts in the category of Arts in Education – Organization.

Presented annually by the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Governor’s Awards for the Arts represent the highest honor South Carolina bestows in the arts. Since 1980, these awards have recognized organizations, artists, and businesses that demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and advocacy in advancing the arts across the state. The selection process is highly competitive and includes a rigorous, in-depth review of each nominee’s impact, leadership, and contributions to the field.

The Arts in Education – Organization category recognizes institutions whose primary function is arts education. This recognition affirms the depth, quality, and measurable impact of ArtsNOW’s work in schools and districts throughout South Carolina. Through arts integration and sustained professional learning, ArtsNOW equips educators with practical strategies that strengthen student engagement, academic achievement, and creative confidence.

ArtsNOW extends its sincere gratitude to the South Carolina Arts Commission for this distinguished recognition. The Commission’s ongoing leadership and investment in the arts strengthen communities, elevate education, and ensure that creative learning remains a vital part of South Carolina’s future.

This award reflects the collective leadership, partnership, and commitment of ArtsNOW’s board, advisory council, educators, and school partners. Together, they continue to position ArtsNOW as a trusted leader in advancing arts education across South Carolina.

For more information, please visit the South Carolina Arts Commission website.