About DreamYard

The Concept

DreamYard is a nonprofit organization of professional visual artists, actors, musicians, film makers, singers, writers and dancers dedicated to working in public schools where there is a need for arts education. DreamYard teaching artists collaborate with classroom teachers to teach required curriculum through the practice of an art form. These collaborations span an entire school year and allow the teaching artist to spend time planning with the classroom teacher every week. Students complete major projects such as writing and performing a play or building a boat and share their work with the community twice each school year. DreamYard's after-school program, The Arts Company, provides teaching artists with an opportunity to focus on teaching a particular art form intensively. The goal of the after school program is to instill in students the discipline, skills and professionalism necessary to seriously pursue a career in the arts. Students in the Arts Company share their work publicly in Winter and Spring Arts Festivals sponsored by DreamYard.

DreamYard artists bring writing, music, poetry, filmmaking, visual arts, dance and drama to young people who haven't had the opportunity to experience the arts as a positive force in their lives. DreamYard students learn how to craft their stories into works of art that they can share with their peers, families and communities.

We hope that DreamYard represents what is best in all of us. We believe that by creating a space where people can share their stories and works of self-expression, we are helping to create stronger, more engaged communities.