Youth Programs
Click here for MPAACT's Arts Education Brochure
MPAACT offers arts education programs including in-school, after-school, summer intensive, individual workshops, and traditional residency. These program typically fall into one of two broad categories- Arts education, and arts integration.
ARTS EDUCATION
When MPAACT’s teaching artists meet new students, many of them have not discovered their own potential to create and express. Far too often they are also unable to value these skills in others. It is for this reason that MPAACT values the explicit teaching of theatre and it’s interrelated disciplines. Through multi-disciplinary arts, young people explore their unique self and learn to communicate their ideas. To that end our artists foster a classroom environment where young people can explore their potential without fear or apprehension. Over our history of providing arts training, we have seen our programs change the way young people view art, themselves and their communities. Through our programming we help young people, teachers, parents and communities understand that art is not smoke and mirrors but an opportunity to learn, share and strengthen their connections with each other.
ARTS INTEGRATION
Developed in partnership with Chicago Arts Partners In Education (CAPE) MPAACT’s understanding of arts integration has grown from a binary alignment of an arts content standard with another academic standard, to a social definition of integration, in which a variety of thinkers with diverse knowledge bases (classroom teachers, arts specialists, visiting artists, community members, other students) collaborate to form a rich and varied learning environment with the students at the center. MPAACT serves the arts integration community in many capacities. In addition to our collaborations with classroom teachers, we have consistently provided professional development training for future teachers through programs at the University of Illinois’ (Chicago) department of education. Additionally we have long provided training to a host of primary and secondary schools through professional development workshops and lane credit courses.