artlook® Connecting Schools, Arts Organizations and Funders

How do arts organizations connect with schools who need their arts programming?

Where do schools find arts resources for their classrooms?

How do funders identify arts programming that they want to support?

Until recently, there was no one place to find this information, but now it is just a few clicks away with artlook.

Walton Arts Center and CACHE (Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange) joined forces to bring the artlook map to Washington, Benton and Madison counties. This online tool connects schools, arts organizations and the funding community with the goal of increasing access, equity and quality arts programs in every public school and every grade in these counties.

“Since our organization began, arts education training for teachers and arts programming for students were the first community services we provided,” said Sallie Zazal, Walton Arts Center director of learning and engagement. “But even with our resources, we have struggled to get in touch with the right contacts within schools to let them know about arts education opportunities. As a result, we tended to work with those schools where we had good contacts, but that left out some schools.” organizations that serve them. Among other valuable information, artlook contains data on the presence of arts teachers and partners in schools, minutes and disciplines of instruction, school and partner arts programs and school needs. This information can then be used to advocate or fundraise to bring similar resources to other schools.

“Our goal has always been to ensure that every student in our region has access to arts experiences.” artlook has been used in Chicago since 2012 to monitor arts education, and they have seen great success with the program. They now have 1,200 arts organizations bringing services into their schools and 100,000 more students annually receive weekly access to arts instructions.

“This platform helps identify districts or schools that are lacking in arts education opportunities so that arts organizations and teaching artists can reach out and offer help to fill those voids,” Zazal said.

“Our goal has always been to ensure that every student in our region has access to arts experiences. artlook is the tool that connects all parties in one platform, making that goal a reality –not just for us, but for arts organizations of all sizes.” artlook provides easy access to information about our local arts education environment, allowing users to explore and download information about both the schools and the community-based arts

“We are just now launching our artlook map, and it could take another couple of years to see full participation by all schools and arts organizations, but it is a start,” Zazal said. “It is an important first step, and one that we can all continue to build upon.”

You can access the artlook site at nwarkansas.artlookmap.com. The artlook platform is made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.