artsBASICs is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been in continuous operation since 2011.
artsBASICS, guided by its Mission, serves students in the Davenport Community School District. We aim to offer arts education through in-depth and sustained experiences in all the arts disciplines. This can be an ongoing experience with a community artist, a summer extended workshop, or an arts integration project involving multiple areas of art and other curricular areas.
To achieve this goal, we also offer arts integration workshops for teachers. We know that one teacher can provide increased arts integration for many students over the course of their teaching career. This significantly increases the effects of these workshops. All children can benefit from the arts in their education and their lives. Today, we know that students learn in many ways; some students can grasp math concepts more easily through choreographing a dance or by creating a musical piece. Some, especially in developing early literacy skills, can learn by "reading" a painting and describing what they see, also to increase vocabulary. Creating physical tableaus of historical events can help students gain a deeper understanding, insight, and empathy for the characters involved by utilizing group dramatic skills. The skills developed through involvement in all aspects of arts education, including collaboration, creativity, confidence, and global awareness, will be even more essential in tomorrow's workplace and enrich these students' lives in ways we can only imagine.
ArtsBASICS is entirely staffed by volunteers. All funds come from grants, fundraisers, corporate, and individual donors.