Artists-in-Schools Program

The Artists-in-Schools Program (AISP) is The Print Center’s award winning visual arts youth education program with an established reputation for an innovative structured, yet flexible, curriculum model and capacity to deliver high quality arts instruction. Started in 2002, AISP offers completely self-contained semester-long classes providing teaching-artists-in-residence, curricula, all course materials and field trips to students in Philadelphia public high schools – completely free of charge.

Through AISP, students are engaged in all stages of art making, from conception and design, to installation and exhibition, while gaining free access to new concepts, materials, techniques and facilities. Curricula are based on exhibitions at The Print Center and include instruction in contemporary art and theory to provide a framework from which to learn the essentials of photography and printmaking using a wide range of tools and techniques. Teaching-artists, classroom teachers and students collaborate to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of their specific classroom.

AISP:

  • introduces students to contemporary art through contact with practicing artists and visits to professional exhibitions;
  • teaches technical and creative art-making skills in photography and printmaking through hands-on experiences;
  • engages students in critical thinking and dialog through and around contemporary art;
  • enhances students’ cultural awareness and art appreciation in order to inspire them to think more expansively about their lives, potential futures and the world around them;
  • provides students with the capacity for self-expression through art-making;
  • inspires sustained working habits through a hands-on curriculum which includes both individual and collaborative art making.

During the 2022-23 school year, AISP served approximately 630 students through 16 residencies in classrooms at Thomas Alva Edison High School, Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School, Olney High School, Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson, Tacony Academy Charter High School, The U School and Vaux Big Picture High School. Teaching-artists Keely Hooper, Anaiyah Luther, Gloria Martin, Lucy Pistilli, Amber Rivera, Tamara Suber and Aki Torii worked with Classroom Teachers Ellwood Erb, Sheree Jackson, Dellami Kauffman, Juri Kim, Josh Kleiman, Cory PerewiznykDominique Samarco and Sofie Seymour to provide classes to students. The dedicated and talented Teaching-Artists and Classroom Teachers were led and inspired by AISP Coordinator Lindsay Sparagana.

View our Curricular Frameworks

AISP has been generously supported by dozens of funders throughout its history. To see a full list of current funders, click here.