As ARTISTIC enters its second year, Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA) is continuing to invest in professional learning opportunities that help YA network teaching artists strengthen their practice among a community of peers while developing new strategies for inspiring young learners and expanding their learning through the arts.
The five-year national initiative expands arts-integrated learning in high-need public schools serving students from low-income communities and students with disabilities across the country. Building on the work of YA’s RAISE initiative, ARTISTIC (America Responds To In-School Teaching with Innovation and Creativity) supports classroom teachers and teaching artists in co-developing custom arts-integrated residencies anchored in iconic American artworks across visual and performing disciplines.
Survey Responses to UDL Workshops
In spring 2026, YA teaching artists were invited to participate in a series of professional learning workshops focused on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), offered in partnership with CAST, the creator of the UDL framework. The series encouraged participants to think intentionally about offering multiple means of engagement of material, representation of content, and expression of responses to foster student choice, and how arts-based instruction can provide multiple pathways for students to enter into and demonstrate their learning.
The response was overwhelmingly positive: through surveys conducted by Metis Associates, YA's research partner in the project, teaching artists described the workshops as an opportunity to strengthen practices they were already using while also gaining new tools to bring into their classrooms and residencies.
“This training particularly helped me to intentionally provide relevant choices that guide students toward the learning objectives. It really helped me to be clear on what my goal is and what am I asking of them, and whether that matches up.”
- YA Teaching Artist / ARTISTIC Participant
Another teaching artist reflected on the value of the professional learning beyond the content itself, highlighting the importance of connecting with colleagues across the YA network.
“The workshops helped me connect more with other teaching artists, hear how they approach their work, and exchange ideas that I can use in my own programs. They also created more opportunities for conversation and collaboration.”
- YA Teaching Artist / ARTISTIC Participant
The positive response reinforced the importance of creating spaces where teaching artists can build community and learn from one another. Teaching artists are eager to incorporate these new approaches into their residencies and other teaching settings. At the same time, they also benefit from the exchange of ideas that develop through the shared experience of the workshops.
Looking Ahead
As ARTISTIC moves forward, YA plans to offer additional opportunities for collaboration and peer learning across the YA network.
In the 2026-27 school year, ARTISTIC will offer two new courses: Artistic Teaching Peer Learning Practicum, facilitated in partnership with Lincoln Center Education, and Arts Strategies for Multi-Lingual Learners, designed to build their understanding of literacy development and current teaching practices in classrooms with multilingual learner (also known as English Language Learners).
Looking even further ahead, YA will continue to create professional learning experiences that strengthen teaching artist practice while fostering a connected, collaborative network of partners and arts educators.
In addition to gaining new strategies for their classrooms and residencies, participants in ARTISTIC are helping to shape a shared vision for what strong, inclusive, and creative arts teaching can look like across the YA network.
About ARTISTIC
Spearheaded by the National Office of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, ARTISTIC supports classroom teachers and teaching artists in co-developing custom arts-integrated residencies anchored in iconic American artworks. The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Learn more.
