Becoming part of an African drumming circle

                     Creating hand-bound books of weather water colors and poems

These are just some of the hands-on experiences District 97 students have through the Art Start program. Professional sculptors, painters, dancers, musicians and storytellers collaborate with teachers and kids in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. Their projects deepen every child’s experience of the curriculum through the arts.

Art in the classroom matters. It gives children wider vocabulary. It introduces new perspectives, helps develop problem-solving skills and creates new opportunities for children to excel in school. As one first grader said, “It’s good to try new things because you never know what you’ll like.”

Our artists also conduct special projects each year with 3rd-8th grade students. Over the last 11 years, more than 8,500 District 97 children have participated in Art Start.