Arts in Education
SOPAC empowers over 9,000 students across more than half of Essex County’s schools through visual arts, dance, and music programming. Aiming to instill a passion for the arts, SOPAC champions arts education as a transformative force in the lives of students. Programs include:
- School Performance Series: Live performances reinforce and enhance classroom learning, spark creativity, and cultivate a lasting passion for the arts.
- Residency Programs: Arts residencies in Jazz and Alvin Ailey’s AileyDance Kids are tailored to each school to support district staff and provide unique opportunities for students to collaborate with and learn from professional artists.
- Visual Arts Program: The INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition, presented in The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery, provides Essex County high school students with a professional experience, from the application and adjudication process to the exhibition and potential sale of their art.