2022 annual report
Growth with Purpose
Executive Summary
Integrated learning is powerful learning. For over 20 years, ArtsNOW has been leading the way in reshaping education to provide engaging learning environments that promote teacher confidence and greater student engagement. By integrating visual, digital, and performing arts into all subjects, we set the stage for more effective educators, which leads to greater academic and personal achievement for their students. Since 2006, we have brought learning to life for:
students
schools
school districts
educators
Our Year of Growth
At ArtsNOW, our guiding purpose is to reshape learning in - and out of - the classroom. For over 20 years, ArtsNOW has transformed education through integrated learning and arts in education. By integrating visual, digital, and performing arts into all subjects, we set the stage for teachers to be more confident and effective in their teaching, leading to deeper student engagement for greater academic and personal achievement.
The 2022 – 2023 school year was exceptionally awe-inspiring and impact-affirming, as we regained full force with our in-person professional learning and classroom support, expanded our presence significantly into South Carolina, and launched our first annual Principals’ Network Conference to further connect our ArtsNOW partners, community, and thought leaders through arts integration.
Our professional learning and in-classroom support were back stronger than ever! We welcomed 119 new schools and 18 new school districts into partnerships, along with more than 14,000 new educators and administrators, impacting more than 30,000 students.
With a focus on growing our service footprint, ArtsNOW expanded our presence significantly into South Carolina, partnering in a state-wide collaborative with the South Carolina Arts Commission and Arts Grow South Carolina. With the goal of providing equitable access to learning in, and through, the arts, ArtsNOW was able to serve over 380 teachers and 5,800 students.
ArtsNOW grew our programming headlines in Savannah, Georgia by advancing our partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing, better known as “CEISMC”, by adding additional learning opportunities for more than 400 students through STEAM Saturdays and Summer Steam Sessions.
One of our proudest, and most exciting, accomplishments was the premier of our first Principals’ Network Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, which will now become an annual event. ArtsNOW hosted 50 participants from 17 school districts across the Southeast to gain insights, participate in presentations, and share best practices from arts integration leaders.
Looking toward the future of ArtsNOW, we have our sights set on expanding our service footprint, exploring new regional and national partnerships, and significantly adding to our library of online resources for educators and families.
ArtsNOW is on our way to making great strides in advancing arts integration and integrated learning. With the focus on educators and students, and by emphasizing the arts in education, ArtsNOW continues to provide an engaging learning environment that promotes teacher confidence and improves student engagement.
Thank you for joining us as we continue to bring learning to life!
Pamela Walker, CEO/President
Our Year of Growth
At ArtsNOW, our guiding purpose is to reshape learning in - and out of - the classroom. For over 20 years, ArtsNOW has transformed education through integrated learning and arts in education. By integrating visual, digital, and performing arts into all subjects, we set the stage for teachers to be more confident and effective in their teaching, leading to deeper student engagement for greater academic and personal achievement.
The 2022 – 2023 school year was exceptionally awe-inspiring and impact-affirming, as we regained full force with our in-person professional learning and classroom support, expanded our presence significantly into South Carolina, and launched our first annual Principals’ Network Conference to further connect our ArtsNOW partners, community, and thought leaders through arts integration.
Our professional learning and in-classroom support were back stronger than ever! We welcomed 119 new schools and 18 new school districts into partnerships, along with more than 14,000 new educators and administrators, impacting more than 30,000 students.
With a focus on growing our service footprint, ArtsNOW expanded our presence significantly into South Carolina, partnering in a state-wide collaborative with the South Carolina Arts Commission and Arts Grow South Carolina. With the goal of providing equitable access to learning in, and through, the arts, ArtsNOW was able to serve over 380 teachers and 5,800 students.
ArtsNOW grew our programming headlines in Savannah, Georgia by advancing our partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing, better known as “CEISMC”, by adding additional learning opportunities for more than 400 students through STEAM Saturdays and Summer Steam Sessions.
One of our proudest, and most exciting, accomplishments was the premier of our first Principals’ Network Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, which will now become an annual event. ArtsNOW hosted 50 participants from 17 school districts across the Southeast to gain insights, participate in presentations, and share best practices from arts integration leaders.
Looking toward the future of ArtsNOW, we have our sights set on expanding our service footprint, exploring new regional and national partnerships, and significantly adding to our library of online resources for educators and families.
ArtsNOW is on our way to making great strides in advancing arts integration and integrated learning. With the focus on educators and students, and by emphasizing the arts in education, ArtsNOW continues to provide an engaging learning environment that promotes teacher confidence and improves student engagement.
Thank you for joining us as we continue to bring learning to life!
IMPACT
Check Out Our Partner Schools!
We are currently working with 78 partner schools in 29 system districts across three states. Click on the dots to learn more and read on in this report for examples of the work we are doing in just a few.
To view a full list of our partner schools, link here or hover over dots in maps below to view by school system.
Alabama
Georgia
South Carolina
Lady's Island Middle (LIMS)
Whale Branch Elementary
Whale Branch Middle
Whale Branch Early College High
Mossy Oaks Elementary
Beaufort High
Beaufort Middle
Lady's Island Elementary (LIES)
Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts
Angel Oak Elementary
Ashley River Elementary
North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary (NCCAE)
Whitesides Elementary
Sanders Clyde Creative Arts Elementary
Calhoun Academy of the Arts
Centerville Elementary
Homeland Park Primary
Kendall Road Complex (Newberry Adult Learning Center)
Boundary Street Elementary
Gallman Elementary
Little Mountain Elementary
Newberry Elementary
Pomaria-Garmany Elementary
Prosperity-Rikard Elementary
Reuban Elementary
Whitmire Community School
East Aiken Elementary
Oakwood-Windsor Elementary
H.E. Bonner Elementary
Cottageville Elementary
Forest Hills Elementary
Northside Elementary
Foundational Seminars
ArtsNOW Foundational Seminars are learning opportunities for teams of educators (K-12) to explore arts-integrated instructional strategies aligned to state and national standards. ArtsNOW specifically designs these seminars for school teams that include administrators, arts educators, and classroom teachers. During an immersive two-and-a-half-days, educators leave equipped to bring creativity, innovation, and arts integration into the classroom across all content areas. Highlights include research-based strategies, participation in hands-on learning, demonstrations in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and digital/media arts. Participants will receive 20 professional learning contact hours.
Partnerships
Foundational Seminars
Barrow County Schools
Barrow County, GA
Learn4Life
Metro Atlanta, GA
Arts Grow SC
South Carolina
CEISMC
Savannah, GA
First Annual ArtsNow Principals Conference
Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC)
South Carolina
Hepzibah
Hepzibah, GA
Hillside Conant School
Atlanta, GA
10+ Years and Growing Stronger
Barrow County
For over a decade, ArtsNOW and Barrow County Schools have worked side-by-side to forge a true district-wide partnership for innovation and arts integration.
With the Center for Innovative Teaching (CFIT) as part of the partnership, ArtsNOW leads this Research and Development Lab for continuous improvement.
ArtsNOW and Barrow County Schools have grown our signature ArtsNOW Residency Program, working directly with students while simultaneously offering professional learning for educators. This partnership has been instrumental in the design and development of both the Barrow County Arts and Innovation Magnet (AIM) for grades 6-8, and the Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy (BASA) for grades 9-12.
“ArtsNOW has been a true partner having real impact on the work we are doing across the district to make teaching and learning more engaging for our teachers and students, with documented results to show for it.”
– Dr. Chris McMichael, Superintendent, Barrow County School System
students
schools
educators
Shining Bright and Making a Difference
Metro Atlanta, GA
In 2021, ArtsNOW was named as Learn4Life Metro Atlanta’s Bright Spot for Early Literacy, supporting and improving educator preparation and effectiveness.
Funding from a private donor allowed ArtsNOW to provide two-year grants to four metro Atlanta schools that demonstrated the need to focus on literacy.
students
schools
school districts
certified teachers
95%
of participants agreed the
ArtsNOW sessions were an excellent use
of professional development time.
95%
of participants agreed
they gained useful teaching
and learning strategies.
Learning Through the Arts
South Carolina
Arts Grow SC provides equitable access to learning in, and through, the arts for South Carolina students. Building on our mission to equip teachers, engage students, and grow school communities through arts integrated approaches, ArtsNOW is serving as a collaborative state-wide professional learning partner.
providing arts-in-education support in underserved communities. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) fund, Arts Grow SC will help public schools throughout the state address pandemic related learning loss with proven, arts-based learning initiatives.
students
schools
school districts
teachers
“The recent partnership with ArtsNOW has been nothing short of remarkable! I’ve heard time and time again from our teachers that the ArtsNOW model for providing arts integration training is exactly how they learn best. ”
– Bradley D. Wingate, Director of Visual & Performing Arts, Greenville County Schools
The competencies most impacted by ArtsNOW
professional learning were reported as:
Teachers reported that the professional
learning had some or large impact on:
“I’m so loving how our teachers are immediately implementing their new learning!”
– Lisa Fallaw, Principal, East Aiken School for the Arts (Aiken County School District)
STEAM-ing Ahead
Savannah, GA
In Fall of 2021, ArtsNOW partnered with CEISMC (Georgia Tech University’s Center for Education, Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing) to open a center for excellence, marrying our integrated learning expertise with CEISMC’s STEM
programming to further our mission of integrating arts into traditional curriculum across the state of Georgia. Over the last year, ArtsNOW collaborated with CEISMC to add additional learning opportunities across the Savannah, GA region.
Interactive Sequential Stills
“Interactive Sequential Stills” is a week-long summer session geared towards various grade levels ranging from 3rd-8th grade. This session combined participants’ interest in storytelling, visual arts, and electronics to bring their comic book ideas to life.
STEAM Saturdays
ArtsNOW partners with (CEISMC) to offer STEAM Saturday sessions. These sessions take place at the GaTech Savannah campus on select Saturdays throughout the school year, and are open to students in grades 3-8 in Savannah and the surrounding areas. Students rotate through interactive sessions that integrate science & technology with art forms like visual arts, theater, music and dance.
students
schools
counties
educators
Premiering the Principals’ Network Conference
Partner schools’ leadership gathers
In Fall of 2021, ArtsNOW partnered with CEISMC (Georgia Tech University’s Center for Education, Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing) to open a center for excellence, marrying our integrated learning expertise with CEISMC’s STEM
programming to further our mission of integrating arts into traditional curriculum across the state of Georgia. Over the last year, ArtsNOW collaborated with CEISMC to add additional learning opportunities across the Savannah, GA region.
Interactive Sequential Stills
“Interactive Sequential Stills” is a week-long summer session geared towards various grade levels ranging from 3rd-8th grade. This session combined participants’ interest in storytelling, visual arts, and electronics to bring their comic book ideas to life.
STEAM Saturdays
ArtsNOW partners with (CEISMC) to offer STEAM Saturday sessions. These sessions take place at the GaTech Savannah campus on select Saturdays throughout the school year, and are open to students in grades 3-8 in Savannah and the surrounding areas. Students rotate through interactive sessions that integrate science & technology with art forms like visual arts, theater, music and dance.
students
schools
counties
educators
Grants
Featured Grants
SAIL
STEM + Art of Integrated Learning
REALAI
REimagining and Accelerating Literacy through Arts Integration
SmART Literacy Federal Grant
SUPPORTERS
FINANCIALS
| Source | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 |
| Government | $721,878 | $1,032,774 | $1,299,083 |
| Earned Revenue | $521,268 | $746,682 | $1,303,539 |
| Investments | $96,973 | $7,110 | $52,857 |
| Contributions | $56,824 | $60,016 | $54,749 |
| Foundations | $496,922 | $676,441 | $531,206 |
| In-kind Donations | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Total | $1,923,865 | $2,538,803 | $3,271,434 |
Annual Financial Growth 2020-2023
ABOUT
MISSION
ArtsNow Learning is to transform lives through customized solutions to meet educational needs utilizing arts-integration and innovative strategies.
VISION
ArtsNow Learning is the leading professional learning organization for resourceful and innovative approaches which engage students, equip educators, and grow school communities for meaningful impact on the future.
Meet Our Board of Directors:
Carol McGrevin, Ph.D., Chair
Partner, MCG Partners
Organizational Leadership Consultant
Pamela Walker, CEO & President
Sherry Cohen, Secretary
Rick Rowell, Treasurer
Partner, Bennett Thrasher P.C.
Michael Cavanaugh
President, Building Management Systems, Honeywell International
Lucinda Chapman
Trustee, Trinity School (Atlanta)
Megan Howard Nellen
Founder, Confluence Educational Consulting
Jill Robinson
Chief Financial Officer
Atlanta Braves Organization
David Shatz
Senior Principal of Arts & Cultural Division, Blackbaud
Danna Vetter
Chief Marketing Officer & SVP
Milliken & Company
Doris Kirby Wilson
Chief Client Officer and Sales Leader, Equifax
10 Glenlake Parkway, Suite 130, Atlanta, GA 30328© ArtsNOW 2023