As it stands, school curriculums in the U.S. have shifted heavily towards standardized testing and the common core subjects of reading and math—but what about the arts? The simple creative activities and modes of exploration cultivated by the arts form the building blocks of child development, leading to healthy social interactions now and later in life.
As a direct result, in 2016, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County began its Arts in My Backyard (AIMBY) program to bring arts and culture to children and families. The program brings the community, arts educators and arts-related programming to the Council headquarters in Downtown Lake Worth Beach, and pairs arts educators and their programs with designated schools and afterschool programs in Palm Beach County.
The program provides opportunities for youth and families to engage with the visual and performing arts, along with providing exposure for partner cultural organizations to the education community.
AIMBY is the Council’s signature arts education program and comprises three branches: Family Saturdays, Early Learners and Cultural Expeditions.
Funded by Celia Lipton Farris and Victor W. Farris Foundation, The Batchelor Foundation, Christine and Bob Stiller and Jim and Irene Karp
Family Saturdays
The Council invites families to discover the arts together as they connect and create memories while acquiring new skills through visual art, dance and theater.
Family Saturdays is a free program presented by various arts and cultural organizations in Palm Beach County. Each monthly event is hosted at the Council’s headquarters.
One Saturday each month | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Early Learners
Early Learners is an art-exposure program designed for parents and caregivers with children ages 0-6 in search of arts activities and cultural experiences outside of the home.
The program comprises arts-related workshops that center on the sensorimotor and language development (literacy) stages in early childhood. Each workshop has a cultural focus and are designed to encourage curiosity and creativity, independence and social relationships, and positive family interactions.
Each class series is designed for a specific age range and runs for four weeks on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 29 to July 21, 2021. All classes are free to attend but because space is limited, advance registration is required.
Cultural Expeditions
Cultural Expeditions is a field trip program that provides free busing and an interactive, guided tour of the Council’s galleries followed by an art-related workshop. This program also supports Palm Beach County cultural organizations by funding trips to various cultural organizations around the county.
This program is appropriate for children 18 months to 18 years who are interested in visual arts as a form of artistic expression.
Guided group tours can be scheduled based on availability.
