Literacy Through Art

Literacy Through Art (LTA) is primarily K-5th grade arts-based curriculum provided to urban and rural public-school students that fosters creativity and proficiency in arts, language arts, and communication skills. The program includes ten lessons with a teaching artist partnering with classroom teachers. The program meets the North Carolina Standard Course of Study goals and objectives in language arts and visual arts for the appropriate grade. Nine in-classroom lessons incorporate images of works of art from the Museum's Collection and use them as prompts for writing tasks and activities. The tenth lesson includes a funded visit to the Museum for a gallery tour and a studio activity with the Museum's School and Teacher Programs Manager.

The program has been offered to counties in Western North Carolina's 24-county region for more than 30 years. LTA curriculum meets the North Carolina Standard Course of Study goals and objectives in language arts and visual arts for the appropriate grade. Regional art and language arts teachers have worked with the Museum's teaching artists and staff to develop the curriculum. Currently, LTA is offered in Yancy, Mitchell, McDowell, Buncombe and Macon Counties. Since its inception in 1994, LTA has reached more than 26,000 children in 992 classrooms in Asheville City and Buncombe, Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Mitchell, McDowell, Swain, and Yancey counties. The program is supported by annual contributions from school districts, grants from private foundations, state and federal sources, and Museum general operating fund allocations.

For the 2023-2024 school year, we reached 8 schools, with 26 classrooms, totaling around 500 students in the WNC region, between 3 teaching artists. For more information about Literacy Through Art, email Susan Hendley, School and Teacher Programs Manager, or call 828.253.3227 x133

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Literacy Through Art is supported by the Blumenthal Foundation, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Provident Benevolent Foundation, and Community Foundation for Henderson County.