Unlocking the Power of Arts Education
Ensuring every student has access to the arts in Chicago Public Schools.
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600+
Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
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12 Years
of Arts Education Data Collection & Reporting
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$24M+
Invested in CPS by the Creative Schools Fund
Our mission is to ensure that every student, in every grade, in every Chicago Public School, has access to the arts as part of a well-rounded education.
We Drive Equity with Data-Informed Insights
As the only organization collecting, analyzing, and disseminating arts education data annually, Ingenuity is proud to be the primary source for insights that fuel meaningful change in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Since 2016-17, over 90% of all 600+ CPS schools have submitted comprehensive arts education data annually.
Our data tools—including the artlook® platform, State of the Arts (Report, Dashboard, and Toolkit), Creative Schools Certification, Creative Schools Roadmaps, and Data Snapshots—empower schools, public sector leaders, and community partners with the data they need to make informed decisions. These tools steer Chicago’s arts and cultural sector toward increasing arts education access, quality, and equity.
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Understand the landscape
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Identify opportunities
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Inform policy & funding
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Empower educators & schools
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Build community accountability
Expanding Arts Education Across Chicago
Arts education shouldn’t be limited by a school’s location or budget. Ingenuity works closely with Chicago Public Schools leadership, educators, cultural organizations, and local communities to ensure that every school has the resources and support it needs to offer high-quality arts programs.
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Schools & district collaboration
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Partnerships with teaching artists & cultural organizations
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Customized support for schools
Investing in Arts Education Where it Matters Most
A strong arts program requires more than passion—it needs funding, training, and resources to thrive. That’s why Ingenuity not only provides data and insights that power meaningful change in CPS schools, but also directly invests in school communities through the Creative Schools Fund (CSF). A public-private funding partnership between the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and Ingenuity’s philanthropic and institutional donors, CSF supports:
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Teacher-led and teacher-designed programs that address gaps in arts instruction
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Building the capacity of arts teachers
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Increasing sustainable access to high-quality arts education
Building a Bright Future for Arts Education
Arts education is an invaluable part of every student’s education. But without strong policies and long-term commitments, it can often be the first subject cut when budgets are tight. Ingenuity works relentlessly to elevate the importance of arts education at every level of decision-making, ensuring that creativity remains at the heart of Chicago’s public schools.
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Shaping district & statewide policies
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Championing the arts in public discourse
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Mobilizing community support
Arts Education Matters
Decades of research has shown that students engaged in the arts perform better academically, develop essential life skills, and cultivate a deeper sense of cultural understanding. In today’s innovative and interconnected world, an education rich in the arts is more vital than ever.
Academic Excellence
Students who are involved in the arts are 4x more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 5x less likely to drop out of school.
According to Americans for the Arts
Social-Emotional Growth
Children who participated in arts activities most days are significantly more likely to have higher levels of self-esteem than those who participated less often.
According to the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Cultural Understanding
Schools offering arts programs emphasizing diverse cultural traditions report students demonstrate greater empathy and awareness of global perspectives.
According to the Kennedy Center
Making an Impact
See how we’re working together to bring the arts to the over 300,000 students attending Chicago Public Schools.
