EFA is a program arm of Kalamazoo RESA. EFA’s roots are based on a unanimous desire of the nine public school districts in Kalamazoo County to make arts education a learning and teaching priority. EFA’s mandate is to enhance arts education opportunities and programs for every Kalamazoo County school through developing, maintaining and strengthening partnerships between school districts, buildings and teachers and the rich array of professional arts institutions in Southwest Michigan. EFA has four full-time administrative staff, nine full-time teachers/resident artists and nearly fifty part-time teaching artists.
Education for the Arts has two major program areas:
Excellence in the Arts- High school classes in theatre, musical theatre, visual arts, dance and multi-media arts are taught in working artistic environments by a collaborative teacher/artist team. All Kalamazoo County high school students are eligible to enroll.
Arts for All - Art education enhancement
{box}
Aesthetic Education Program Teaching artists and classroom teachers collaboratively provide inquiry-based lessons to develop K-8 students' abilities to describe, analyze and interpret visual and performing art works.
{box}
EFA Presents! Subsidized performing arts field trips and visual arts repertoire available to K-12 schools.
Washingtons School Tour EFA sponsors K-8 school tours of Von and Fran Washingtons' acclaimed story theatre productions.
{box}
Grant Programs EFA annually awards $150,000 to K-12 schools, teachers/teaching artists and students.
Awards and Honors
In November 2005, Education for the Arts was awarded the ArtServe Michigan Governor's Award for Arts in Education.
{artserve}
In May 2006, at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Education for the Arts was awarded the ArtServe Michigan Arts in Education Award.
{myaf}
The 2009/10 Repertoire
Education for the Arts is delighted to announce the 2009/10 Repertoire.
The Repertoire features world-class dance, music and theatre performances and visual arts exhibits. Works of art are offered September 2009 through June 2010.
Browse the EFA Presents! web site for a calendar of events, artist previews and booking information.
