Arts Partners for Learning

Work Samples for the Arts Partners for Learning Initiative. Our goals include expanding access to arts education for children in the 8 counties of WNY, and improving the capacity of cultural organizations in these counties to provide quality creative learning programs.

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Explore Buffalo at Pinehurst Elementary School

One hundred-twenty students from Pinehurst Elementary engaged in a special workshop created by Explore Buffalo’s Paige Melin that encourages the students to link what they learned about architecture. The students discussed different architectural styles, were shown examples that are found in downtown Buffalo and had the opportunity to build their own buildings using Lego Architectural sets.

Students were also able to experience the rich history and architecture in Buffalo with a guided walking tour led by Explore Buffalo’s docents. Pinehurst students were especially in awe of the grandeur of City Hall.

“Architecture is a unit that is ofter overlooked at the elementary level, so adding it is a valuable component to our curriculum as well as the many connections with STEAM, an initiative in our school.” (Laura Glista, Pinehurst art teacher)

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Shakespeare in Delaware Park at Franklinville Jr/Sr High School

Shakespeare in Delaware Park worked with sixty tenth grade students at Franklinville Jr/Sr High School with their “Speaking Shakespeare” residency program. With the world of Shakespeare and his texts, students were able to relate the themes and concepts in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” to events occurring in 2018. High School teacher Lauren Svec shared “To have in-school Shakespeare programming was an incredible opportunity for our school. Tracy had the kids excited about Shakespeare and challenged them in a new and fun way that I have been unsuccessful. They were literally hooked on her every word. Many of our students have never been to the theater and have little concept as to what going “out of the area” means.  Since we are a small rural school, to receive this type of art-in-education programming was incredibly impactful and inspiring.”

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Ujima Theater Company at Buffalo United Charter School

Sixty fifth grade students at Buffalo United Charter School participated in the “My Voice/My Life” residency program with Ujima Theater Company this past Spring. The students responded, reported and reflected on current events and the world n which they live. The aesthetic “voices” incorporated acting, dancing, drumming, poetry and singing as a means of communication.

Students learned how one’s “voice” is influenced by personal and cultural forces and in turn influences the culture in which one lives.

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West Buffalo Charter School and the Roycroft Campus & Buffalo Audubon Society

Roycroft Campus visited sixty second graders from West Buffalo Charter School and made plant books using coffee filters. 

The first week of May, the students visited Beaver Hollow. It may have been chilly outside, but it didn’t stop the 2nd grade students from running up to the Grandpa Tree for a hug. 

Lauren Makeyenko, teaching artist from the Buffalo Audubon Society, also went to the school and made tree collages the students using natural materials.

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Chautauqua Lake Elementary School and Infinity Visual & Performing Arts Center

This residency included a new APL school, Chautauqua Lake Elementary, and Infinity Visual & Performing Arts Center. Teaching artist Deb Eck from Jamestown, New York planned a three week residency where students created collages based personal journals. The result were vibrant, emotional, and details collages. 

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Winchester Elementary School’s Collaboration with Western New York Book Arts Center & TIFFT Nature Preserve

Tifft Nature Preserve partnered with Western New York Book Arts Center (WNYBAC) to create special programming linking nature with book arts. Sixty fourth-graders from Winchester Elementary learned about screen printing and book stitching, as well as creating their own screen prints and journals. 

Rosemary Williams of WNYBAC led three sessions with the students who also explored the mathematics behind book making. One student was so enthralled with book making that he went home and made his own!

Kimberly Andersen from Tifft led two sessions of nature journaling with the journals created with WNYBAC. The fourth graders learned that nature journaling was important to our own history with the Lewis and Clark expedition. At the workshops students spent time making specific observations about nature and were encouraged to keep using their “I Notice” journals throughout the school year. 

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Pinehurst Elementary School and Explore Buffalo & the Darwin Martin House

The fifth grade students at Pinehurst Elementary were able to continue their study of the Darwin Martin House, making connections with the architecture of the house and the “I” beam construction with workshops given by docents of the Darwin Martin House at the school. Students became aware of the innovative style of architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and the connections with nature contained in this “work of art” to be lived in. The residency concluded with a site visit to the house for all of the 120 students.

“Architecture is a unit that is ofter overlooked at the elementary level, so adding it is a valuable component to our curriculum as well as the many connections with STEAM, an initiative in our school.” (Laura Glista, art teacher)

This was followed by a special workshop Explore Buffalo created for the students to link what they learned about architecture. The students discussed different architectural styles, were shown examples that are found in downtown Buffalo and had the opportunity to build their own buildings using Lego Architectural sets.

Students were also able to experience the rich history and architecture in Buffalo with a guided walking tour led by Explore Buffalo’s docents. Pinehurst students were especially in awe of the large stained glass skylight in the Common Council Chamber in City Hall. 

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H. O. Brumsted and the Buffalo Architecture Foundation

Through a residency with the Buffalo Architecture Foundation artist Linsey Graff, sixth grade students from H.O. Brumsted Elementary School created a to-scale, historical architectural timeline that depicted the Pyramids, the Colosseum and the Freedom Tower. The structures were built depicting the actual materials used to build these structures. 

“ We are grateful for this wonderful program which would not have been possible without the Arts Partners for Learning grant. This program is essential to critical thinking and creative problem solving skills. It allows children to experience learning in a whole new way.” (Susan Mikula, Arts-in Education Site Coordinator, H. O. Brumsted)

The program has been so successful in the past, that it was expanded to include the fourth grade this year. The students worked with the BAF teaching artist to create a 3D model of the school’s floor plan. Teachers at the elementary school shared that they love the many cross-curricular connections the students make on their own through this unique programming. 

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Waterfront Elementary and Starlight Studio & Art Gallery

Waterfront Elementary participated in an after school-residency with Starlight Studio & Art Gallery. Second grade students interacted with Starlight teaching artists who shared their experiences of being artists and poets with disabilities. They discussed examples of the ways art has helped them find a voice and break down barriers in their lives. The students worked collaboratively with the Starlight artists to create expressive works of art that exemplify the use of creative expression as an advocacy tool. Together the artists and the students created imaginary animal creatures that were incorporated into large scale murals. 

Starlight Studio & Art Gallery is a cooperative environment that supports adults with disabilities in their artistic development. Through mentoring by professional artists, on-site and off-site exhibitions and other opportunities for representation and sales, the Starlight artists hone their artistic interests; become stronger advocates and better-integrated citizens. 

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Occupational Training Center, School 42 and Neglia Ballet

The Buffalo Public School District provides training for students with severe intellectual disabilities. Young adults 18 to 21 years of age attend the School 42 Occupational Training Center at the Tri-Main Building. School 42 received funding from Arts Partners for Learning (APL) to work with Neglia Ballet Artists and Conservatory. 

Neglia Ballet Artists is dedicated to enriching the region’s cultural environment by building appreciation and support for the art of ballet. The “City Dance” in-school residency teaches students physical awareness, movement, confidence, nutrition and the opportunity to express themselves through dance. 

WBFO's Focus on Education Reporter Eileen Buckley says students receive a variety of experiences to become independent and employable. Read the full WBFO article here. 

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Global Concepts Charter School and Explore & More Children’s Museum

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Catholic Academy of West Buffalo & Squeaky Wheel

Squeaky Wheel is a grassroots, artist-run, non-profit media arts center founded to promote and support film, video, computer, digital, and audio art by media artists and community members. Catholic Academy of West Buffalo worked with teaching artists from Squeaky Wheel to create short stop animation videos based on the theme of, “Home.”

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The Buffalo Museum of Science gave students at Catholic Academy of West Buffalo hands-on experience with “capillary action art.”

Capillary action (sometimes capillarity, capillary motion, or wicking) is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, and in opposition to, external forces like gravity.

Students explored the movements of liquids in small groups and were amazed by their discoveries. They then used their new vocabulary and knowledge to create personalized works of art.

“Encouragement was not needed because all the students WANTED to participate. It was clear the students respected the teaching artist (Sarah). She allowed for hands-on, collaborative learning and individual expression.” (Robert Brunschmid, APL Leadership Team member)

“The program was successful in many ways. Our main objective of connecting science and art was accomplished. The students were able to remember technical terms like capillary action, surface tension, etc.” (Beth Lenz, art teacher, Catholic Academy)

View pictures of the program and artwork here

“We are so grateful for this special program which would not have been possible within the school budget. The students were given an opportunity to learn beyond the usual and also allowed for engagement with parents, allowing them to see the benefits of art.” (Beth Lenz, art teacher, Catholic Academy)

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See more pictures with B.A.F. at School #33 from Young Audiences WNY

Students from Bilingual Center School #33 designed and created custom gardens through a residency with Buffalo Architecture Foundation artist Linsey Graff.

Over the course of the residency, students designed gardens in small groups, completed detailed scale models, presented their projects to the whole class, and experienced the very real fruits of their labor.

“…As the students progressed, we could see the students gaining confidence in their abilities and their ideas. We also observed an increase in collaboration and a willingness to listen to each other. Towards the end of the program, they became very independent at completing tasks on their own.” (Siu Connor, teacher, BPS #33)

Their first session began with some basics, including how to draw objects to scale.

“…this program taught the students how to measure and use a ruler.  It also taught students how to problem solve, since they were given limited materials to work with.  Students also learned about ratios when they were taught to draw to scale.” (Siu Connor, teacher, BPS #33)

Some students discovered new confidence and talent during the project.

“…When we started the project, he needed a great deal of prompting. Towards the end, he became a leader of his group. His creativity and artistic ability really came through when designing the panel for the presentation.” (Siu Connor, teacher, BPS #33)

Both students and staff were excited to be part of the residency.

“The whole program was a positive experience. Ms. Graff’s experience and expertise were invaluable to the outcome of this project.”(Siu Connor, teacher, BPS #33)

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Squeaky Wheel Animated Stories (and Minds) at Brocton

View pictures of the animation process

Read the cooperating teacher’s blog post

Young Audiences and Arts Partners for Learning made it possible for an after-school group from Brocton Central School District to collaborate with Kaitlyn McCleary of Buffalo’s Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Arts Center. Over six sessions, students used paper, textiles, and iPads to make this stop-motion animated short.

Drawing inspiration from picture books, the students chose the theme of the four seasons. Each middle school or high school student worked on the design and animation of one or more seasons. They painstakingly cut out and arranged pieces to snap a picture for each frame of the video. Ms. McCleary edited the frames together to create the delightful finished work.

Ms. McCleary, the visiting artist from Squeaky Wheel, felt really supported and found the students eager to work and the teacher engaged. While it was a challenge to collaborate on a medium so new to both the students and the teacher, she found that they developed different and better ideas when they got together.

The first-time project for Brocton involved “lots of room for creative thinking,” encouraged collaboration between middle schoolers and high schoolers, and taught the students visual storytelling skills.

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We are grateful for this program, as it broadens student understanding and experience of subjects covered in the curriculum.

Teacher, West Street Elementary, Sanborn, NY

Thanks to Arts Partners for Learning, West Street Elementary students interacted with the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum and musician Doug Yeomans. The museum helps students explore the art, science, math, music, and social history of the early American amusement industry, from carrousels to coasters. Doug Yeomans’ customizable Erie Canal program uses music to help students experience this fun and fascinating part of the past.

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We had an excellent time at the concert, and another with Miss Anna Mattix, the BPO’s resident English horn and oboe player, who visited Friendship Central School to meet with all the fifth grade students. Thank you, Mr. Oldham, for writing the application that got us such an excellent experience for our kids!

Todd Chadwick, music teacher, Friendship Central School

Middle school students at Friendship Central School visited the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for a concert. During her program at their school, Oboist Anna Mattix spoke with them about her experiences as a professional oboe player and what it took for her to accomplish her goals, played for them, and provided an extensive Q&A session.