Blactastic performers Debra Mims, Baba Bomani, Jamaal “Mr. Root” Collier, Quynn Johnson, Drew Anderson, and Jessica “Culture Queen” Smith along with videographer Jimmy Powell gather in the shade of a white, wooden gazebo on a bright, sunny day. The group–in matching black t-shirts printed with Arts for Learning's bold cyan, magenta, and yellow logo–smiles into the camera.

Blacktastic! 2025 – Black History Month Content like no other

This February, the fifth annual Blacktastic! returns, bigger and better than ever! Looking for joyful, original, and exciting Black History Month programming? Join us in celebrating the joy of Maryland’s Black history and culture through Blacktastic! This extended virtual program…

Arts for Learning Maryland Selected to Join Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program

Arts for Learning will join a cohort of 200 nonprofit cultural organizations from across the U.S. and U.K. to improve essential digital infrastructure. Today, Arts for Learning announced that it has been selected to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator…

The Arts for Learning Maryland Board of Directors surround Stacie Sanders Evans on s stage. The group is smiling into the camera with Stacie in the middle. A board member in a bright pink blazer holds a framed photo collage stitched together by artist Katherine Dilworth.

Celebrating Stacie Sanders Evans’ 20 Years at the Helm

Twenty years ago, Arts for Learning Maryland (then Young Audiences of Maryland) looked and felt a lot like it did when it was founded in 1950. A staff of four was focused on booking artists for predominantly school assemblies, mostly…

A woman dressed in black and wearing a name tag smiles as she holds a hand-drawn poster that says, "Match My Joy." A smiley face emoji stands in place of the letter O in the word 'joy.'

Empowering Leaders, Engaging Learners: The 2024 Principal Fellowship

Fourteen school principals from four Maryland school districts recently united for the first time at Sankofa Children’s Museum of African Cultures. The gathering served as a welcome to an esteemed professional development program for outstanding leaders in education: The Arts…

Pink, green, and blue post-it notes cover a white board. The word 'mindfulness' is written at the top of the board in red letters. The post-it notes have the handwriting of many people and convey their thoughts about mindfulness.

Putting the “Teaching” in “Teaching Artist”

Our summer programs have ended, the school year is about to begin, and our teaching artists are ready to return to classrooms with more experience partnering with teachers and engaging students in joyful, creative, and academically strong lessons. Each year,…

Students are dressed for warm weather in t-shirts and shorts. They are in a classroom, lined up on chairs, and drumming on overturned orange buckets.

A Peek into Summer at Arts for Learning Maryland

Summer is in full swing, bringing with it soaring temps, plenty of sun, and, for thousands of Maryland students, the arts. This month, students across the state are experiencing a variety of Arts for Learning Maryland’s arts-integrated summer programs that…

Arts for Learning Maryland Awarded Grant to Expand Bloomberg Arts Internship Program for Baltimore’s Public High School Students

Arts for Learning Maryland’s Bloomberg Arts Internship Program (BAI) is expanding to reach more students in Baltimore City thanks to a generous grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Arts Internship Program offers Baltimore City Public Schools rising seniors full-time, paid…

Two ASALA students — one in a green shirt and one in a black hijab — smile and make peace signs at the camera.

US Department of Education Honors A4L and City Schools’ SALA and ASALA Partnership

Study shows measurable impact of ASALA participation Huge news! Arts for Learning Maryland, in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, has been recognized by the US Department of Education (DOE) for the Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) and After…

School principals sit around a long white table covered in scissors and different papers. One principal is turned and smiling. Her glasses are resting on the top of her head.

Arts for Learning Maryland Receives NEA Funding for Principal Fellowship

Program Applications Now Being Accepted from Principals Arts for Learning Maryland is thrilled and honored to have been named a recipient of National Endowment For the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects funding to support its Principal Fellowship Program. The…

Arts for Learning Maryland Shows State Leaders the JOY and Impact of its Early Childhood Programs 

Our early childhood programs are a sight to behold! Visitors to our programs, often caregivers interested in reinforcing the unique and playful techniques demonstrated by our teaching artists at home, can expect to find young ones eagerly engaging with our…

Students bundled in winter coats and wearing backpacks, sitting very close together at a cafeteria table. They are watching Blacktastic on a large screen at the front of the room.

WYPR is Blacktastic!

For 74 years, Arts for Learning Maryland has worked tirelessly to ensure our arts-integrated educational programming is as accessible as it is engaging to learners of all ages. The rapidly evolving educational landscape, shaped in part by the pandemic, brought…

On the left is a headshot of Dani Faulkner. She is wearing glasses and has a relaxed smile. On the right is a side profile photo of Micaela Gramelis shot in a wooded area. Dappled sunlight hits her face.

New Chief of Engagement and Development Director at Arts for Learning Maryland

Arts for Learning Maryland’s Development and Engagement teams have expanded! We’re excited to announce the appointment of longtime Arts for Learning team member Micaela Gramelis to the newly-created Chief of Engagement position, and Dani Faulkner as our new Development Director.…