Core Principles

• We believe in the power of the arts to help all young people gain the essential skills of self-esteem, self-confidence, and a love of learning.
• It is critical to us that each student's participation in an Arts to Grow class is their own choice.
• Our goal is to help young people connect with their own creativity, become inspired, and find joy in the process of learning.

Mott Hall II - Comedy & Improvisation  Photo Credit: Bill Stanton

• Arts to Grow classes seek to help young people become creative problem solvers, independent thinkers, and confident learners. Each class provides time for student self-reflection and peer critique.
• Our programs ask young people to approach art with a seriousness of intent and offer opportunities to build discipline specific skills.
• Culminating events are an integral part of each class. We want young people to gain the benefits of sharing their accomplishments with the community at large. 
• We hold a deep respect for our teaching artists and believe that with guidance they can create the best curriculum to help young people reach our goals for learning through the arts.
• We seek on-going opportunities for sharing best practices and assessing outcomes.
• Our programs are most successful when effective partnerships are established between program partners and Arts to Grow.
• We work to establish clear expectations with program partners, teaching artists, and young people.
• We conduct on-going program assessment helping ATG to be a learning organization.