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Nurturing Creativity and Academic Excellence: 14th Annual Summer Arts Education Institute
Arts EducationArts AdvocacyArts Ed Resources
bySally GreenonMay 28, 2025

For fourteen impactful years, the Summer Arts Education Institute has been a beacon for educators seeking to infuse classrooms with the transformative power of the arts. For the first time, we'll be hosted by Cabrillo College! It’ll be a vibrant four-day immersive experience under the theme, "Arts, Adaptability, and Resilience."

“Partnering with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education each year to bring the Institute to life is magic.”

Sarah Brothers, Arts Education Director for Arts Council Santa Cruz County.

“Gathering with teaching artists and teachers from across the central coast and the bay area to learn and inspire learning fuels my fire for this work. Teachers are inspired and end the week by developing concrete lessons that they will bring back to their classrooms in the fall to reach hundreds (and in some cases, thousands!) of students, providing them with fun, engaging ways of learning about themselves and the world around them,” shares Sarah Brothers, Arts Education Director for Arts Council Santa Cruz County.

A Hub for Educators Across Disciplines and Counties

The Summer Arts Education Institute isn't exclusively for arts teachers. Most of our participants are generalists, multi-subject, and single-subject teachers and administrators, eager to discover how the arts can enhance learning across all disciplines through arts integration. Arts integration is an engaging teaching approach where students learn and demonstrate understanding through artistic expression and connecting an art form with subjects like math, science, English language learning, and history.

The Institute's more than just a workshop; it's a dynamic learning community. Each year, we welcome K-12 classroom teachers, teaching artists, and school administrators from across the region. A rich exchange of ideas and practices happens among folks from San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties.

Supporting the Next Generation of Arts Educators

A highlight of our partnership with Cabrillo College, seven of its arts and education major students will attend the Summer Arts Education Institute on scholarship. This is a vital step in furthering Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s regional work to expand teaching artist pathways. These aspiring educators will learn alongside seasoned professionals, gaining invaluable insights into the world of teaching and arts integration, and offering fresh perspectives to the mix.

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Unlocking Potential

The Summer Arts Education Institute equips educators with practical strategies and a deeper understanding of arts integration. Key goals include:

  • Acquiring essential classroom management and arts materials organization skills.

  • Re-imagining teaching, using the arts to support academic learning and social-emotional development.

  • Gaining a profound understanding of arts integration, its value in student learning in non-arts subjects, and creating a positive classroom and school culture.

  • Learning powerful tools to promote critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.

  • Developing a supportive learning community of practice that extends beyond the Institute.

Join Us!

Our days at Cabrillo College are packed with engaging sessions led by expert facilitators. From exploring Dance and Visual Arts integration with subjects like Math, Science, and English Language Arts to using Music for classroom management and social-emotional learning through theatre.

If you’re wondering if the Summer Arts Institute is right for you, check it out. We invite any and all teachers interested in learning about arts integration and being part of a growing community of practitioners.

June 9-12, 2025

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM each day

Cabrillo College, Aptos campus

Learn more: http://summerartsinstitutesantacruz.weebly.com/

Register for this enriching experience at bit.ly/SummerArtsEducation2025.

Call for Sponsorships

To continue offering this vital program and supporting scholarship opportunities for future educators, we welcome and encourage sponsorships. Your support directly impacts the ability of teachers, teaching artists, and students to access high-quality arts education and bring creativity, innovation, and excitement into classrooms. To keep minds open and alert, and bellies happy, we provide a light breakfast, snacks, and lunch each day. Donations to support the care and feeding of the dedicated educators who attend through gifts of catering, coffee, and cash are greatly appreciated.

The arts aren't just an add-on, but an essential component of a holistic and effective education. Join us as we continue to empower educators and inspire a new generation of creative and resilient learners!

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