Joy matters.

Every week, teaching artists walk into classrooms across Oregon and SW Washington with drums, paintbrushes, scripts and clay. Students find new ways to speak, move and make. Teachers see something new in their students. That’s the joy we’re celebrating this season.

Arts for Learning Northwest connects young people, professional artists, educators and school districts so that creativity, belonging and connection are central to learning, not extras. Last school year, that meant 35,000 students in 27 school districts learning alongside more than 120 teaching artists. It matters: 75% of Oregon elementary teachers say the arts aren’t part of their daily schedule (Oregon Department of Education, 2023–24).

This year, our community came together to protect arts education for those students. Share Your Joy is how we celebrate that, and how we keep it going.

How to be part of the story

Join us at Holocene. Thursday, November 12, 4:30 to 6:30pm. Free; reserve your spot above.

Give. Your gift brings teaching artists into classrooms where the arts would otherwise be missing.

Share your story. Post a short video or photo about a moment the arts changed something for you or a young person in your life. Tag @artsforlearningnw and use #ALNWJoy.

Mark your calendar for Giving Tuesday, December 1.

Thank you for being part of this community. Share your joy, and help keep the arts in every child’s life.

Share Your Joy!

Celebrate Arts Education in Our Community