WHAT SETS ARTSMART APART
Our mission is to serve students in under-resourced communities with arts education by paid, professional mentors. We believe arts education is a necessary and critical part of cognitive, emotional, and academic development— and where our curriculum-based US education system often falls short. This most notably impacts students in under-resourced communities who often lack access to arts-based classes.
Free lessons by trained, professional artist mentors
Emphasis on mental health & social-emotional skills
Rigorous tracking of student outcomes | Learn more
ArtSmart is in the second year of a longitudinal study with WRG Institutional Review Board, tracking the long-term impact of ArtSmart and arts education more broadly on our students. This is a unique study for a nonprofit to conduct, and we’re proud to be leading the charge for the industry. The results show a growing correlation between consistent arts education with a mentor and improved mental health, belief in oneself, academic success and college attendance rates.
WHO WE SERVE
Partner Schools
Since opening in 2016, ArtSmart has served over 980 students and operated in 33 Title 1 schools across seven US cities.
Professional Mentors
ArtSmart has employed 76 artist mentors, paying over $1.4 million in dependable income.
Music lessons
ArtSmart has provided over 42,000 free music lessons to students across the United States. This equals 30,000 hours of mentorship.
92% of ArtSmart students attend Title 1 Schools.
88% of ArtSmart students identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.
43% of students identify as LGBTQ+.
Our impact
Creating Purpose and Passion
Students who have access to arts education, especially when delivered one-to-one or in small-group settings, have improved mental health, self-confidence, and academic success, all of which paves the way to a bright and vibrant future.
Encouraging Academic Excellence
100% of ArtSmart’s 2022 graduating class of 65 students completed high school, and 90% went on to college.
Making Vocal Progress
94% of students say they are happy with the vocal progress they made during the program year.
Improving Mental Health
83% of students say their music lessons have had a positive impact on their mental health.
Bridging the Lessons Gap
80% of families in the program say that without ArtSmart, they would not be able to afford private music lessons.
Building Professional Pathways
70% of students say the program impacted their future plans or goals, and over half (52%) of graduating students go on to study the arts at a college or university.
Promoting Creative Development
x2 The percent of students who strongly agree that they are talented more than doubled from September.
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SUCCESS STORIES
Find out how ArtSmart has made a difference to our students lives and helped them achieve success.
Katelyn
Find out how ArtSmart helped Katelyn develop her singing skills and how her music lessons benefited her emotionally in other school lessons.
Isaias
Read about how ArtSmart has encouraged Isaias to step out of his comfort zone and discover the power that music has to connect with people.
Nevontae
Read about Nevontae's ArtSmart experience and how music has helped develop his self-confidence and find unique learning techniques.