DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative

The DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing equitable access to arts education for all DC public and public charter schools for the growth of the whole child. The DC Collaborative believes that the arts—inclusive of music, visual arts, theater, dance and literary arts—are central to the education of every student. As a community-based partnership organization, almost 100 members strong, DCAHEC works with its partners to produce such exemplary programs as Arts for Every Student (AFES), Professional Development, and the recently launched Arts Education Initiative (AEI).

Members of the Collaborative include Adventure Theatre, Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, the National Museum of African Art, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, the National Symphony Orchestra, Fords Theater, The Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Washington Bach Consort among many others. The Executive Director of the DC Collaborative was Louise Kennelly. In 2014, Lissa Rosenthal-Yoffe stepped into the role.

The DC Collaborative's Arts for Every Student program comprises both in school and out-of-school arts experiences, available to DC public and chartered school students without charge:

AFES at Cultural Institutions provides the DC public and chartered schools with access to age-appropriate cultural opportunities throughout the Washington Metropolitan area. The DC Collaborative's sponsorship ensures that under-served schools can benefit from the region's rich array of arts amenities. Excursions include storytelling presentations, music, dance and theater experiences including trips to the Kennedy Center and museums. These events connect to class-curriculum and help students develop critical-thinking skills. Participating organizations provide teachers with study materials, adding further incentive to integrate the arts into their daily lessons. In the 2008-2009 school year more than 33,000 students and teachers visited Cultural Institutions through AFES. Since 1998, the DC Collaborative has served 322,045 students and educators.

AFES In School is an alliance between the DC Collaborative and Washington Performing Arts Society's (WPAS) Concerts in Schools program. From WPAS's impressive roster, teachers can select "visiting artists" that perform free of charge. The live presentations, supporting workshops, and lecture/demonstrations enhance students' understanding of and appreciation for the arts and humanities. This on-site program also encourages teachers to incorporate cultural activities in the classroom more often.

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