Art Websites and Art Activities
The following page provides information about the arts and art activities for children or adults. What is your school district doing to make the arts better for students? How much exposure to the arts do students in your public schools get daily, weekly, ever?
Arts education includes drawing, painting, material arts, singing, playing a musical instrument, dance, and drama.
State art links provide a snapshot about how arts are considered in public schools. Too many states focus on aligning the arts to standards.
I hope you can use this page to encourage your student to explore the arts. Some of the museum websites provide virtual tours. Other sites are a bit rusty but might provide ideas about how to improve art education in school or at home.
Work to ensure that every school in every public school district provides a strong arts program. Students deserve to be able to experience the arts in their schools. The arts can help children and teens do better in school, enjoy school, even stay in school! The arts can also lead to a fulfilling career.
Americans for the Arts the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts. The Arts Education section is helpful. There is also a link to a Public Awareness section which includes questions to ask and a breakdown of state standards involving the arts. This may be beneficial in understanding how each state handles art education in public schools. Here’s the toolkit for students.
Important Note. Laura Chapman received a life-time achievement award from the National Art Education Association (named for Elliot Eisner). She has worked on NAEP assessments in the arts.
Laura wrote Instant Art, Instant Culture: The Unspoken Policy for American Schools. The loss of the arts and credentialed art teachers in public schools is a travesty. It’s important to understand, and to fight for more art classes in public schools taught by real teachers. Laura had this to say.
Americans for the Arts is the lobby for The National Endowment for The Arts and that both have trickle down policies to state arts councils. Both entries have as a major purpose promoting artists as if they are qualified teachers, but working in a gig economy, offering few classes for a fee, or a longer “residency” also for a fee.
I note that a major research report on access to instruction in the arts (in your resources) was conducted with data from 2009. You should know that a major data project is currently underway with representatives from The National Art Education Association and Americans for the Arts.
n 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts had no formal policy bearing on arts education. I devoted a chapter in my book about that: (2005) INSTANT ART, INSTANT CULTURE: THE UNSPOKEN POLICY FOR AMERICAN SCHOOLS. Reston VA: National Art Education Association (“NAEA Classics Series” reprinted by permission of the author and Teachers College Press). Then and to a lesser extent now, the federal architecture for education and for the arts operate separately, and more often than not, separately from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Some frail connection with the National Science Foundation are constructed to promote STEM as STEAM…. So, so far at least the federal architecture has four major silos, one each for the arts, sciences, and humanities, and one for education, with education differently regarded in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
Angie Villa Art & Education Angie is a certified art teacher, visual artist and musician. She taught elementary and middle school art. Angie blogs about the loss of the arts and problems relating in general to schools, but she also provides art ideas. Thank you, Angie Villa!
Art Cyclopedia look at the upper left side of the screen for valuable links on artists, art museums around the world, and more.
ArtJobs If you’re an artist and out of work, here are some job opportunities. This site describes various jobs related to the arts. Search for full and part-time employment, internships, grants, public art projects, residencies by region, art discipline, type of organization, and more. There is a fee involved to learn specific job information.
Beethoven Depot links to interesting information about Beethoven.
B-Mor7 hip hop artist and activist with videos that address social justice issues.
The Children’s Music Network links with musical activities and songs!
Chorus America advocacy, research, and leadership development advancing the choral field. They serve choral conductors, administrators, board members, and singers, providing tools, training, peer networking, and access so that choruses are better able to contribute to their communities.
Classics for Kids music, notes, composers, and suggestions and activities for parents and teachers, and more.
Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resources connect with artists during Covid-19. Virtual resources and informational support for artists during this difficult time.
Crayola Don’t underestimate the crayon! Projects and art ideas for children found here using crayons. They also combine the arts and science.
Drama Teacher Resource Company links to drama activities, podcasts, and more!
First Palette art activities for young children.
Good Morning Art Teacher ideas for student art projects for children.
Jazz website advertising the PBS film by Ken Burns. Scroll to find informative videos about music.
The Kennedy Center Very Special Arts (VSA) shares links to art activities, parent and teacher guides, and resources. The artwork they include is beautiful.
National Art Education Association (NAEA) provides information to assist with art advocacy. They also provide links to assist with starting school art programs.
National Art Honor Societies includes elementary, middle, and high school visual arts educators; college and university professors; university students preparing to become art educators; researchers and scholars; teaching artists; administrators and supervisors; and art museum educators—as well as more than 54,000 students who are members of the National Art Honor Society.
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) assists each state in creating an arts support agency for excellence and access to the arts. NASAA unites, represents and serves those jurisdictional arts agencies. Their website has links to various support organizations. Also submitted a Best Practices Issue Brief entitled The Role of the Arts in Economic Development.
National Association for Music Education NAfME support music educators with resources for virtual instruction, professional development, and information about the pandemic. Find webinars, articles, guidance, links, and more.
National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) educational association promoting the importance of music. There’s lots to explore here. The site provides links to current research supporting music education. There are no activities for children here.
National Dance Educators Association Those interested in dance might find something here. They include an online forum and scholarship information.
National Endowment for the Arts links to topics connected to the arts.
National Theatre Association links to topics including theatre in schools.
The Piano Education Page information about piano.
A. Pintura, Art Detective Dashiell Hammet detective style art exploration.
Support Music: A Public Service of the Music Education Coalition information for advocating music in public schools. There are checklists to see where various schools stand when it comes to music and links to many other music and art support organizations.
Theaterish virtual theater and links to resources and information for different ages about theater and acting.
Turnaround Arts national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Founded in 2011 by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, a White House advisory committee on cultural issues, under the leadership of former First Lady Michelle Obama, it puts the arts back into select schools. The thinking is that it will keep students in school and boost academic achievement.
20 First Photos from the History of Photography learn about the development of early photography.
Yuber Sutter Arts Very Special Arts (VSA) this group is connected to the John F. Kennedy Center’s Very Special Arts with affiliates in various countries. Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith founded VSA in 1974. Individuals with disabilities showcase their artistic abilities. Valuable resources are provided for teachers.
VH1 Save the Music dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in America’s public schools. This nonprofit organization has provided more than $30 million in instruments for schools since 1997. This foundation purchases instruments in order to save music programs that are at risk of being eliminated due to budget cuts or lack of instruments. They conduct awareness campaigns, musical instrument drives, and fundraising events to meet their goals.
Widewalls: Tessellation Patterns From Mathematics to Art mosaic patterns found in different cultures.
Young Audiences Arts for Learning Groups like this take over art programs funded by the government in public schools. But they help children learn about the arts. They’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. It would be better to have a fully funded public school program with a state certified art teacher, but programs like this fill in if they’re isn’t any art program.
Documentaries
Imagine Bus Project is a video demonstrating the power of art. Here it is with incarcerated students.
Reports
Williams, Florence and Aeon, “Why Fractals Are So Soothing” The Atlantic, January 26, 2017
International Art Museum Sites
MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand, São Paulo, Brazil
The National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
Science and Media Museum from the U.K. Provides activities for children.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Netherlands
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Learn about the artist and the museum.
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
State Website Links to the Arts and Public Schools
State approach the arts in public schools differently. Some address the culture unique to their communities. Some websites seem dated. Others seem to overly concerned about aligning the arts to standards.
Alabama
Arts Education in Alabama Courses of art study.
Alaska
Venture for Alaska’s Youth: Arts Education in Alaska
The Alaska State Council on the Arts
Arizona
Arts Education Scroll to find resources and more online art sites.
Arkansas
Arkansas Arts and Cultural Resources for Children Links to explore about Arkansas and more.
California
California Alliance for Arts Education
California Arts Council provides information about grantmaking, and reports about the beneficial impact the arts have on children. Although the site is particularly important for the State of California, anyone from any state may glean new information to help advocate for the arts in their public schools. There’s a special section on poetry too.
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco de Youngster Studio has art activities along with directions.
J. Paul Getty Resources for Students provides some instructional advice for projects and learning about art.
Keep Arts in Schools provides research for the arts in public schools, resources, and how to get involved. Ideas for all.
Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (LACMA) provide an art project for kids.
Los Angeles lists more links about the city and its art culture.
Colorado
Arts Education in Colorado is focused heavily on standards, even for the arts! But there are links to other subjects, and more standards.
Arts Education in Colorado: Guidebook and Resources is about art programs. Many links to support the arts, but not for finding art projects for children.
Connecticut
Connecticut Arts Standards It’s about the standards.
Delaware
Delaware Arts Education It’s about the standards.
Florida
Florida Alliance for the Arts seems to rely on partnerships and is interactive.
Florida Department of Education: Fine Arts
Georgia
ArtsGeorgia: ArtsEd Program Connected to Americans for the Arts.
Georgia Department of Education: Fine Arts
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Education: Arts
Learning Design: Fine Arts focus on Hawaii.
Hawaii: Artists in the Schools
Idaho
Art – Boise School District has some interesting links.
Arts Idaho is standards-based but might find some good ideas.
Illinois
llinois Creates: The Illinois Arts Education Initiative
Indiana
Iowa
Iowa Department of Education: Fine Arts Talk about the data.
Kansas
Arts KC Not sure if they have anything to do with public schools.
Kansas City, Kansas Visual and Performing Arts
Kentucky
Americans for the Arts disturbing that a negative report about the loss of the arts in Kentucky showed up.
Jefferson County Public Schools: Visual and Performing Arts in Louisville, they seem to have the arts.
Louisiana
Department of Education: Louisiana Believes
Maine
Maryland
Arts Education in Maryland Public Schools
Massachusetts
Boston Children’s Museum Virtual tour.
Exploring Leonardo. Learn about the artist, scientist, and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci. From the Boston Museum of Science.
The Kennedy Center Arts Edge ideas and interesting information.
Massachusetts Art Education Association
Michigan
Michigan Department of Education: Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment Project Look closely at the title!
Michigan Merit Curriculum: Standards, Benchmarks, and Grade Level Content Expectations for Visual Arts, Music, Dance, and Theater
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Education: Arts Even during the pandemic they’re focused on standards. No art activities found here.
Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Education: Arts: Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts Standards.
Mississippi Department of Education: Visual & Performing Arts More standards.
Missouri
Missouri Alliance for Arts Education: Arts Education Makes a Difference in Missouri Schools
Missouri Arts Council: The State of the Arts
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Fine Arts Resources
Montana
Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Education: Fine Arts
I Love Public Schools: Why the Arts Matter, Omaha
Nevada
State of Nevada Department of Education: Fine Arts
New Hampshire
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
Plenda, Melanie, “The state of arts education in New Hampshire” Parenting NH, January 29, 2016.
New Jersey
New Jersey School Boards Association: State of the Arts By Robert Morrison
New Mexico
New Mexico Arts: Arts Advocacy
New York
The Met: Educators has lesson plans for teachers.
The Met: Kids and Families online audio guide provides information links about art at the Met.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) Kids Students videos describe famous paintings and sculptures and write a story about the art. They’re encouraged to do their own art.
New York Foundation for the Arts Art jobs.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Take a virtual tour of the museum and study art through the galleries.
North Carolina
North Carolina Department of Education: Arts Education
North Dakota
North Dakota Council on the Arts
Ohio
Ohio Alliance for Arts Education
Ohio Department of Education: Visual and Performing Arts Identification
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Public Schools: Arts – Visual & Performing Provides additional links to the arts.
Oregon
Access to Arts Education in Oregon Schools
Pennsylvania
Andy Warhol Museum is one of the four Carnegie Museums located in Pittsburgh. Have educator and parent links to activities for children.
Pennsylvania Arts Education Network
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Pennsylvania Department of Education: Arts & Humanities
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Arts Education Association
Rhode Island Music Educators Association might provide insight to other states trying to save their music programs. Resources and links to various music sites of interest are provided including information that may be helpful for advocacy.
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Education: Visual and Performing Arts
South Dakota
South Dakota High School Activities Association: Visual Arts
Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Education: Arts Education
Texas
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston offers program activities.
Texas Commission on the Arts: Art in Schools
Utah
Utah State Board of Education: Fine Arts
Vermont
Envisioning Arts Education in Vermont: Final Report, May 2015
State of Vermont Agency of Education: Arts
Virginia
Virginia Department of Education: The Arts
The P. Buckley Moss Foundation has as its mission to assist children who learn art in different ways. The P. Buckley Moss Foundation provides grants to teachers seeking to utilize the arts to help children with learning disabilities. Introduces students to P. Buckley Moss.
Washington
Seattle Public Schools: Visual and Performing Arts
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: The Arts
West Virginia
West Virginia Department of Education: The Arts Standard, but couldn’t find them.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Public Education: The Power of Arts Education
Wisconsin Music Educators Association
Washington D.C.
District of Columbia Public Schools: Art: Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Smithsonian American Art Museum activities and interactive videos are available.
Books
The Artist as Citizen by Joseph W. Polisi
Instant Art, Instant Culture: The Unspoken Policy for American Schools by Laura H. Chapman
Strong Arts, Strong Schools: The Promising Potential and Shortsighted Disregard of the Arts in American Schooling by Charles Fowler
Understanding Those Who Create by Jane Piirto, Ph.D.
Reference
American Library Association
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