Many young people in Central Florida are experiencing stress and isolation. School can feel overwhelming and, for some, there are few opportunities to connect with peers in meaningful ways through in-person experiences. Arts education provides a proven solution.
Singing in a choir, performing in a play, joining a writers’ group or exploring dance gives young people a place to express themselves and make real connections. With access to the arts during the school day, students develop a sense of belonging that can shape their entire educational experience.
Today, access is not equal across the region and students in counties outside the urban core—such as Seminole, Lake and Osceola—face additional barriers due to funding and proximity.
That’s why our team at United Arts of Central Florida partners with more than 100 nonprofit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs to bring arts experiences into schools and communities.
Programs such as our immersive Teaching Artist Residencies place professional artists in classrooms each week for a semester, giving students the opportunity to create and explore their own voices.
These programs are made possible with the support of AdventHealth, Fifth Third Bank, the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, the Universal Orlando Foundation and the Education Foundation of Lake County.
Such residencies ignite curiosity, enhance problem-solving, and encourage collaboration along with other essential 21st-century skills that students need to thrive into adulthood.
A teacher who benefited from the program recently shared: “The students were so engaged and remembered what was taught the day before more than they usually remembered from classes that they attend multiple times each week. They had fun doing something different and new. Please bring this back!”
Research supports what we see every day. According to Americans for the Arts, students who participate in arts activities are twice as likely to graduate from college, score higher on standardized tests and develop skills that last a lifetime. Arts engagement helps students stay connected to school and reduces the likelihood of their leaving before graduation.
Early exposure to the arts also opens doors to creative careers. Central Florida’s thriving creative economy—from theater and music to design, media and immersive experiences—relies on talent with strong critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Arts education makes this possible. By connecting children to the arts early and consistently, we strengthen career pathways and ensure that our region remains a hub for innovation and opportunity.
Expanding access is a priority for United Arts. In Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties, some neighborhoods and communities face barriers to arts participation due to limited transportation and fewer cultural resources.
School-based arts programs are often the only way students experience music, theater, dance, digital, visual, literary and industrial arts. We’re committed to expanding access in these communities through partnerships, making it possible for all children to discover their unique arts story and enjoy the health and social benefits the arts can bring.
Local nonprofit organizations such as ArtReach Orlando, Page 15 and Orlando Family Stage—which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year—provide students with platforms to engage in drawing and painting, theater and literary arts. And it’s changing lives.
You can support arts education by donating to our Arts for All fund, volunteering, enrolling your children in programs or contributing supplies to classrooms. Any contribution can make a significant difference.
Remember, investing in arts education is investing in Central Florida’s future. When children can explore, create and participate in the arts, they gain skills, confidence and connections that will always serve them well.
Explore arts education opportunities and support local programs at Artists.UnitedArtsCFL.org/artsed.
JENNIFER EVINS
President & CEO
United Arts of Central Florida
