ArtReach is a grant funded art outreach program which connects experienced ACAC art teachers with elementary schools in the area that do not have art classes for kindergarteners. For the past several years, ACAC has provided the Frontier Regional School District (Deerfield, Whately, Sunderland and Conway) with kindergarten art classes through out the school year. 

This year ACAC has begun a new  collaboration with the Cold Spring School in Belchertown. Through this new endeavor kindergarteners will learn about both mural making and clay handbuilding. For one half of the program students will design and create a mural to be installed in the school. During the second half students will have two lessons about clay and mask-making learning about the process of working with clay as well as the multi-cultural aspects of mask-making. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Proceeds from a Barnes & Noble Bookfair also supported this program.

Art is an integral part of the academic puzzle, and ACAC believes that all children should have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from art.  ArtReach ensures that all children are exposed to art and art making in the earliest possible stages of elementary education.  ArtReach brings art classes to 12 different kindergarten classrooms, serving over 300 students a year.

Updated 3/20/2008. All images courtesy of  ACAC. All rights reserved.