Smiling children hold up a collaborative construction paper collage in their classroom. Their artwork depicts a fall day in a neighborhood, complete with neighbors, leaves, houses, and even a pumpkin.

Baltimore City to Welcome Dream Academy Charter School, operated by Arts for Learning Maryland

A new charter school is coming to Baltimore City. Arts for Learning Maryland, in partnership with Thomas Jefferson Elementary/Middle School (TJEMS), will open Dream Academy Charter School for student enrollment in Fall 2026. The school will offer an arts-integrated learning…

Michelle Minnick–wearing a red and black layered, loose fitting dress and stockings–stands on one leg as if frozen in an exaggerated march with one arm stretched high. She is on a school stage with a hula hoop criss-crossing her torso.

Teaching Artist Profile: Michele Minnick

Arts-integrated learning is incredibly moving for students. In theatre artist Michele Minnick’s programs, we mean that literally! As an Arts for Learning teaching artist for more than six years, Michele provides arts-integrated experiences in a variety of subjects through a…

Mr. Word wears a patterned scarf wrapped around his hair and a chest-length, beaded necklace. He is speaking closely into a microphone onstage under red lights.

Artist Profile: Mr. Word

Exploring a wide range of ideas and experiences is the essence of life. And for Rashaan “Mr. Word” Eldridge, an Arts for Learning Maryland teaching artist and musician, actor, writer, rapper, poet, and performer, it’s the essence of his creativity!…

Pink, green, and blue post-it notes cover a white board. The word 'mindfulness' is written at the top of the board in red letters. The post-it notes have the handwriting of many people and convey their thoughts about mindfulness.

Putting the “Teaching” in “Teaching Artist”

Our summer programs have ended, the school year is about to begin, and our teaching artists are ready to return to classrooms with more experience partnering with teachers and engaging students in joyful, creative, and academically strong lessons. Each year,…

Students are dressed for warm weather in t-shirts and shorts. They are in a classroom, lined up on chairs, and drumming on overturned orange buckets.

A Peek into Summer at Arts for Learning Maryland

Summer is in full swing, bringing with it soaring temps, plenty of sun, and, for thousands of Maryland students, the arts. This month, students across the state are experiencing a variety of Arts for Learning Maryland’s arts-integrated summer programs that…

School principals sit around a long white table covered in scissors and different papers. One principal is turned and smiling. Her glasses are resting on the top of her head.

Arts for Learning Maryland Receives NEA Funding for Principal Fellowship

Program Applications Now Being Accepted from Principals Arts for Learning Maryland is thrilled and honored to have been named a recipient of National Endowment For the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects funding to support its Principal Fellowship Program. The…

A teacher and students gather around a whiteboard and write out details of scenes for a student-created play.

Summer Fun is Fuel for Fall!

It’s not just new school supplies that students carried with them into class for the first day of school this fall! Thanks to Arts for Learning Maryland’s engaging summer programs, thousands of students across Baltimore City and DC have new…

A middle school student in a gray t-shirt stands on stage smiling and holding drumsticks in a ready position behind large Japanese drums. Another student can be seen in the background.

Arts for Learning Maryland Is Now an Approved Community Schools Vendor for Baltimore County Public Schools

Arts for Learning Maryland announced a new partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) to enhance the out-of-school time learning and arts experiences for thousands of students. Arts for Learning Maryland is now an approved vendor for BCPS’ 37 community…

White man with short gray hair with a bright smile standing in front of a school bulletin board and holding a manilla folder.

Talbot County fourth and fifth graders-turned-screen-painters thrive with teaching artist John Iampieri

Maryland flags…Black-eyed Susans… blue herons… University of Maryland Terrapin basketballs, and more! In late March at White Marsh Elementary in Talbot County, dozens of students set off on a creative journey with screen painter and Arts for Learning Maryland teaching…

Adult hugging and holding a smiling toddler on her lap.

Introducing: Month of the Young Child

Join Arts for Learning Maryland in partnership with Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children for Month of the Young Child–a fun-filled month (April 10 – May 5) of arts-integrated workshops, lessons, and activities for ages 3-6. With interactive,…

A teacher sits next to a student on bench in a crowded cafeteria. Both are looking ahead and smiling.

Blacktastic Was Fantastic!

What a day! Thank you to everyone for joining us for Blacktastic, the Children’s Festival of Maryland Black History & Culture! For the third year in a row, attendees enjoyed six engaging, arts-infused workshops that celebrated and educated viewers about…

Black and white photograph of Baba Bomani in Blacktastic t-shirt.

Blacktastic: Children’s Festival of Maryland Black History & Culture returns this February

This Black History Month, tens of thousands of Maryland students will celebrate the joy of Black history and culture through the arts at Blacktastic: A Children’s Festival of Maryland Black History & Culture—a day-long, arts-integrated, performance-packed virtual experience produced by…