By Casey Dath | Development Associate
Now in 2026, I can’t help but feel surprised at how much has been accomplished in 2025! We’ve had another packed year full of excellent arts classes, and thousands of children who have walked away with newfound skills, confidence, and creativity.
I’m writing to you today to share our progress over the past year–and to let you know that even when the ecosystem at large diminishes opportunities for marginalized children, we still feel a responsibility to persist in our work.
Arts For All successfully served approximately 5,000 students across all five boroughs of New York City in 2025, providing 100% free professional-grade arts education to underserved communities. Through 975 in-person workshops across 100 residencies and a robust Virtual Classroom with over 80,000 views, we continued our mission to bridge the arts education gap affecting low-income and minority students.
The Challenge
Nearly 20% of NYC public schools lack licensed art teachers, disproportionately affecting the over 420,000 children living in poverty in our city. This systemic gap leaves countless students without access to arts education that research shows makes them 2x as likely to graduate college, 5x less likely to drop out, and helps them score higher on SATs.
Our Response
In 2025, Arts For All delivered:
Measurable Impact
In 2025, we saw high levels of growth in core values, based on data taken from across our programs. On average, we recorded students increasing 32% in Self Expression, 22% in Resilience, 16% in Creativity, 16% in Self-Confidence, and 18% in Teamwork.
Arts For All was once again named one of the highest-rated organizations on Great NonProfits' platform.
Community Voices
"Watching them light up with pride—seeing family members tear up—was a moment none of us will ever forget. It was a powerful reminder of what is possible when scholars are given access to quality arts education." — Akua-Kissiwaa Adefope, Principal, PS243 Weeksville
"It was a joyful and interactive session that supported creativity, teamwork, and fine motor skills, and families left beaming from the experience." — Alex Gelman, Director of Program Operations, Corlears School
Looking Forward
Arts For All continues to adapt to community needs with new teaching artists, school partnerships, and lesson plans. Our bilingual Teaching Artists remain especially crucial for serving hundreds of English Language Learners across our partner schools.
By Casey Dath | Development Associate
By Casey Dath | Development Associate
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