Quality arts experiences for Hawaiʻi’s pre-K – 12 public and charter school students. Applications for School Year 2024-2025/6 are open through March 28, 2024, 11:59 p.m. HST via HawaiiGoSmart.org.
The AITS application is completed and submitted in the Hawaii GO Smart online application system: HawaiiGoSmart.org.
The Artists in the Schools (AITS) Program is under the jurisdiction of the SFCA. AITS arts residency grants provide engaging, creative, and fun learning experiences based on the Fine Arts standards for all grade levels, through residencies with qualified, trained teaching artists from the Artistic Teaching Partners (ATP) Roster. Many of these teaching artists integrate their art form with other core curriculum areas, such as language arts, math, social studies, and science, meeting both Fine Arts and other core standards.
Online Information Sessions
Artists in the Schools information sessions for School Year 2024-2025/6: dates to be announced. These information sessions are for Hawaiʻi public and charter schools interested in applying. Hawaiʻi public and charter school classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, vice-principals, and principals can apply in tandem with a teaching artist from the SFCA Artistic Teaching Partner Roster.
School Year 2024-2025/6 application materials. To submit, please go to the application portal, Hawaii.GoSmart.org.
The Artists in the Schools Program Values:
Partnership – Teaching Artists and schools collaborate closely.
Creativity and Individuality – Teaching Artists and schools design specific experiences that are meaningful to all stakeholders involved.
Cultural Relevance – Pedagogy is well-informed of and responsive to the unique cultural context of Hawaiʻi.
Student-Centered Education – Lessons and experiences empower students to take an active role on their own education and design their learning.
Educational Equality – Residencies, PDs, and infrastructure are designed in such a way that we may live into our kuleana to racial and economic equality and support individuals with diverse physical abilities, learning styles, sexualities, gender expressions, and geographic realities.
All state of Hawai‘i public schools and public charter schools, grades pre-K through 12, are eligible to apply for ONE arts residency grant annually. This year, schools can apply for a one-year or two-year long grant. Schools must work in partnership with a teaching artist from the SFCA’s Artistic Teaching Partners (ATP) Roster to develop the residency. The roster lists qualified trained individual teaching artists and arts organizations. The roster is updated annually before each call for AITS applications. (Download the roster PDF below under “Necessary Materials for Applying” or use the searchable roster: Artistic Teaching Partners (ATP) Roster).
A residency consists of a minimum of 5 secondary or 8 elementary sessions by the teaching artist with the same core group of students. The learning experiences must support the Fine Arts Standards from the Department of Education Hawai‘i Content and Performance Standards III. Teaching artists on the Artistic Teaching Partners Roster bring dance, drama/theatre, literary arts, mime, music, puppetry, and visual arts to the classroom in their arts residency.
Schools may apply for either an Artists in the Schools General Grant or an Artists in the Schools Art in Public Places Grant. All Hawai‘i public and public charter schools are eligible to apply. Neither grant requires a school match.
Schools are able to apply for a one- or two-year long residency. The grant funds and arts residency activities are for only School year 2024- 2025, or School Years 2024-2026 if applying for a two year residency. Individual Artistic Teaching Partners working with multiple schools must ensure that all of their schools are either all one-year or two-year long residencies due to contracting.
The goal of the general grant is to incorporate the Teaching Artists’ art form into classrooms, utilizing art standards. This grant can be either arts integration, or focused on a specific arts practice. The maximum grant amount is $8,000 plus an additional (optional) $500 for Professional Development for the classroom teachers. If your school would like to learn about the school match reduction/waiver, please contact Danica Rosengren at [email protected].
The goal of this Art in Public Places (APP) Grant is to increase students’ appreciation of, and engagement with, works of art in the Art in Public Places Collection. The emphasis for APP arts residencies is on interpreting an artwork by means of the Teaching Artist’s art form. The goal is to increase students’ appreciation of, and engagement with, the Arts in Public Places Collection. Most artworks can be viewed in this online photo gallery: DAGS.Hawaii.gov/SFCA/APP/gallery.
The maximum grant amount is $8,000 plus an optional additional $500 for Professional Development for classroom teachers.
AITS is funded with state appropriations from the State of Hawai‘i Legislature, federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and private matching funds from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. In the 2023-2024 school year, 125 schools received AITS funds to conduct their arts residencies.
These schools received an Artists in the Schools grant for School Year 2023-2024.
School Name | Island | School Year | Project Title |
---|---|---|---|
Connections PCS | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Printmaking and Patterns in Place |
Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | "Strength In Diversity" Sculpture Inspires Creativity |
Haaheo Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Interpreting Art Through Clay Exploration and 3-Dimensional Sculpture |
Hawaii Academy for Arts & Science Public Charter School | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Making Math Memorable with Music & Movement |
Hawaii Technology Academy, Kona PCS | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Inspired by Nature: Exploring Nature's Wonders through Visual Art, Language, Math, and Science |
Hilo Union Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Reading and understanding "Waianuenue" Rainbow Water: Connecting people to place through the Arts |
Holualoa Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Kalo and Ulu: A Visual Journey to Hawaii's Canoe Plants |
Honaunau Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Dramatizing Text: Creative Experiences with Literature |
Innovations Public Charter School | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Stewards of a Creative Future |
Kahakai Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Embracing the Elements: Exploring Hawaii's Weather in Abstract and Landscape Painting |
Kalaniana'ole Elementary & Intermediate | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | (Gr3) Intro to Art: Hawaii's Flora & Fauna /(Gr4) Drawing & Painting: Hawaiian Flora & Fauna |
Kanu o ka Aina NCPCS | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Dancing Lava; using imagery, music, and movement to stoke the fire of the imagination. |
Ka'u High & Pahala Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Ka'u Keiki Growing in the Wind! |
Keaau Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Expressing our Place through Interpretation and Creation |
Keaau High | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Journey in Time-- Multiple Possibilities |
Keaau Middle | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | The Voyage of Hip Hop: From the Beat to the Street |
Kealakehe Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Our Stories, Ourselves: A creative journey |
Konawaena Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Creating Characters,Telling Stories by Drawing Cartoons |
Konawaena High | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Learning About Self and Culture Through Art |
Kua O Ka La Public Charter School | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Supporting Inclusive Diversity with Music & Dance |
Laupahoehoe Public Charter School | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Movement that moves you: using dance to express emotions, ideas, and opinions. |
Mountain View Elementary | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Moving Mural: Exploring from Within |
Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Moolelo in Motion: Dances Inspired by Murals |
The Volcano School of Arts and Sciences Public Charter School | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Ka Hana Kapa: The making of Hawaiian Kapa Bark Cloth |
Waiakea Intermediate | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Poetic Handmade Books |
Waikoloa Elementary and Middle | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Creative Mosaics of Hawaiian Plants and Place |
Waimea Middle School Public Charter School | Hawaii Island | 2023-2024 | Daily Living Danced |
Alaka'i O Kaua'i Public Charter School | Kauai | 2023-2024 | Celebrating Music Around The World |
Hanalei Elementary | Kauai | 2023-2024 | Moolelo Mural Legacy Project! |
Hawaii Technology Academy, Kauai PCS | Kauai | 2023-2024 | All that Glitters |
Kalaheo Elementary | Kauai | 2023-2024 | Talk Story |
Kanuikapono Public Charter School | Kauai | 2023-2024 | Moving into Moolelo: Dancing the Story |
Kapaa High | Kauai | 2023-2024 | All that Glitters - stone setting |
Kawaikini Public Charter School | Kauai | 2023-2024 | Moving into Moolelo: Exploring Place Based Literature Through Creative Dance |
Kilauea Elementary | Kauai | 2023-2024 | Set Your Own Score: The Synergy of Art, Dance & Music |
Waimea Elementary | Kauai | 2023-2024 | Waimea Scenes |
Lanai High & Elementary | Lanai | 2023-2024 | Igniting The TORCH With Rhythm & Dance |
Haiku Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Body Beats: Gettin' Gritty With It |
Hana Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Habitat Clap: Exploring Community with Body Percussion |
Hana Middle | Maui | 2023-2024 | Expressing YOU: Mixed Media Self Portraits |
Hawaii Technology Academy, Maui PCS | Maui | 2023-2024 | Exploring American History through Musical Theatre and Hip Hop |
Iao Intermediate | Maui | 2023-2024 | Pua hoʻohihi a nā manu (Flowers fancied by birds): Modeling Relationships with Paper Engineering |
Kamalii Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Exploring Cultural Diversity with Music & Dance |
Kihei Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Movement & Music with Math in Mind |
Kihei Public Charter School | Maui | 2023-2024 | Underwater Explorations: Painting and Sculpting Ocean Animals in Hawaiian Habitats |
King Kekaulike High | Maui | 2023-2024 | Bringing Shakespeare's Characters to Life |
Kula Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Restorative Choreography: Mind, Body, Heart and Spirit |
Lihikai Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Reconnecting Through Dance |
Lokelani Intermediate | Maui | 2023-2024 | Speak On It, Dance On It |
Makawao Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Musical Teamwork: A Journey Of Rhythm And Song |
Maui Waena Intermediate | Maui | 2023-2024 | The Hero's Journey: Exploring Archetypes and the Human Spirit through Collage, Assemblage & Poetry |
Paia Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | O Hawaii Kuu Aina: Deepening Connection Through Movement |
Pomaikai Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Understanding the Present through the Past: An artistic Journey |
Pukalani Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Examining Artwork to Explore Nature's Elements through Music & Dance |
Puu Kukui Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Interpreting Artwork to Communicate Idea and Meaning Through Dance |
Samuel E Kalama Intermediate | Maui | 2023-2024 | Hawaiian Feather Work: Honoring the Past and Creating for the Future |
Waihee Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Dancing Our Story Creations |
Wailuku Elementary | Maui | 2023-2024 | Page to Stage: Building Reading Skills through Drama |
Kaunakakai Elementary | Molokai | 2023-2024 | Using Dance to Interpret a Work of Hawaiian Visual Art |
Kilohana Elementary | Molokai | 2023-2024 | Discussion To Body Percussion |
Maunaloa Elementary | Molokai | 2023-2024 | Exploring Multi-Cultural Celebratory Music & Dance |
Aikahi Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Ke Ahupua'a through Clay |
Ala Wai Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Cultivating Creative Voices |
Äliamanu Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Agents of Change: Creative solutions |
Blanche Pope Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Luhia, The Moo-kane of Waimanalo |
Enchanted Lake Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Dramatic Events: Exploring Culture Creatively |
Hahaione Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Cultural Tales: Creative Interpretation |
Haleiwa Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Puppet Stories |
Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Hawaiian Images through Clay |
Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Taiko Vibrations |
Hawaii Technology Academy PCS | Oahu | 2023-2024 | The Play's the Thing! Dramatic Language Arts for Grade 7 |
Heeia Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Legend of the Hilu Fish |
Hokulani Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | The Joy of Giving: Expanding our Whole School Drama Experience to Include Performances |
James Campbell High | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Written on your sleeves: Literary expression through fashion |
Kaaawa Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Creative Exploration of Cultural History and Tradition |
Kaelepulu Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Creative Interpretation: Bringing Learning to Life through Drama |
Kahala Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Manaiakalani/Kahiko |
Kahaluu Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Kahalu'u Culture Mural - Painted Wall Mural |
Kaimuki Middle | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Creative Exploration of Text |
Kalihi Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Story Drama: Building Understanding through Creative Collaboration |
Kamaile Academy Public Charter School | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Core Values in Creative Ways |
Kamalani Academy Public Charter School | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Creative, Collaborative Communication |
Kamiloiki Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Ka Malamalama o Kamiloiki"" through Clay |
Kaneohe Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Exploring Problems in Creatively Engaging Ways |
Kaohao Public Charter School | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Non-traditional Learning: Creative Text Explorations |
Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Aloha Aina: An Artistic Journey |
Keonepoko Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Printmaking and Patterns within our Ahupua'a |
Lanakila Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Bowl and Placemat Creation Sets the Table for Conservation |
Liholiho Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Hawaiian Images through Clay |
Linapuni Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Taiko Bliss |
Makaha Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Printmaking inspired by Kapa Design Marie McDonaldâs âUnited (Yellow Stripes)â |
Makakilo Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | In Art and in Nature: How Maui and the Sun and Hina and the Moon reflect Science |
Malama Honua Public Charter School | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Mo'olelo in Play |
Manoa Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Deconstructing Glass Mountains: Creating Poetry and Dance from Visual Art |
Mauka Lani Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Nurturing growth, creatively |
Maunawili Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Playscape: Art as a Reflection of Life |
Mayor Joseph J. Fern Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Say It With Chalk |
Mililani Mauka Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Hoomau: Pacific Patterns |
Mililani Uka Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Creative Engagement with History |
Moanalua Middle | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Finding Your Bravery Through the Ensemble |
Mokulele Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | MAKING MEANING THROUGH INTERACTIVE ARTISTRY & SOCIAL DANCE LITERACY |
Nanakuli Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Creative Expression: Building Capacity to Dramatize Understanding |
Noelani Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Enlivening Family and American History Through Drama |
Nuuanu Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Dramatic Social Studies for Grades K, 2, and 5 |
Palolo Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | The Coral Reef through Clay |
Pearl City High | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Interpreting âMoon Beyond the Fenceâ by Satoru Abe with Shadow Puppetry |
President Abraham Lincoln Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Building Expressive Skills through Creative Text Exploration |
President Thomas Jefferson Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | LÅkahi: Unity Through Art and Nature |
Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Dramatic Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies for Grades K-5 |
Princess Kaiulani Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | New Millennium Sky: Banyan and Stars"" through Clay |
Princess Likelike Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Ke Ahupua'a through Clay |
Queen Kaahumanu Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Stories in our Lives |
Red Hill Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Upon the Land, Upon the Sea: Exploring Cultural Richness Broadly and Deeply |
Salt Lake Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Tales and Telling: Dramatizing folklore |
SEEQS: the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Zero Waste Art Making: Reinforcing Sustainable Themes through the Printmaking Artform |
Sergeant Samuel K. Solomon Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Create 3D Paper Mache creatures with adaptations and animal characteristics |
Stevenson Middle | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Mo'olelo and Identity |
Sunset Beach Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Exploring and Interpreting the Public Work of Art, âS.U.R.F.â by Jodi Endicott Through Puppetry |
Voyager Public Charter School | Oahu | 2023-2024 | In the Shoes of Others: Role-play in Learning |
Waiahole Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | 3:Jungle Collage Diorama 4:Garden Scene: Batik art to Embroidery to Quilt 5/6:Hybrid creature puppet |
Waialae Public Charter School | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Voyaging into History |
Waialua Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Adventures in Watercolor |
Waianae Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Exploring 'The Beauty of Waianae' |
Waiau Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Role-playing Conflict to Imagine Solutions |
Waikele Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Learning About the Take Cares Through Literature |
Waikiki Elementary | Oahu | 2023-2024 | Engaging with Text through Creative Collaborations |
In 2020, the SFCA began making AITS video lessons to enable remote learning.
AITS Poetry Class with Laurel Nakanishi, Lesson 1.
AITS Poetry Class with Laurel Nakanishi, Lesson 2.
AITS Poetry Class with Laurel Nakanishi, Lesson 3.
AITS Poetry Class with Laurel Nakanishi, Lesson 4.
AITS Poetry Class with Laurel Nakanishi, Lesson 5
AITS Poetry Class with Laurel Nakanishi, Lesson 6
AITS Music Class with Chizuko Endo, Taiko Drumming, Lesson 1
AITS Music Class with Chizuko Endo, Taiko Drumming, Lesson 2
AITS Music Class with Chizuko Endo, Taiko Drumming
AITS Music Class with Chizuko Endo, Taiko Drumming
AITS Music Class with Chizuko Endo, Taiko Drumming
AITS Music Class with Chizuko Endo, Taiko Drumming
AITS Music Class with Chizuko Endo, Taiko Drumming
AITS Art Class with Ellen Crocker, Japanese ink brush
Done in partnership with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Education’s video production branch, these videos take you into classrooms and have Artistic Teaching Partners, classroom teachers, school principals, and students explain how the program works and the benefits of the program. See the full album or view individual videos below.
A brief overview of the program. (58 seconds)
A brief overview of the program. (1 minute 14 seconds)
A longer overview of the entire Artists in the Schools program. (6 minutes 24 seconds)
Waiahole Elementary School, with ATP Chizuko Endo. (4 minutes 13 seconds)
Puohala Elementary School, with ATP Kealoha. (4 minutes 59 seconds)
Aliamanu Elementary School, with ATP Lily Brennick from Honolulu Theatre for Youth. (4 minutes 44 seconds)
Keoneula Elementary School, with ATP Michael Wall. (4 minutes 33 seconds)
King Kekaulike High School, with ATP Beth Marcil. (4 minutes 55 seconds)
Kahakai Elementary School with Gerald Lucena from Donkey Mill Art Center. (5 minutes 8 seconds)
Kawaikini Public Charter School and Kilauea Elementary School with ATP Kumu Mauli Ola Cook. (6 minutes 8 seconds)