After School Arts Program

The mission of the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities' After School Arts Program (ASAP) is to:

• provide high quality visual and performing arts education at no cost to under-served students in our community
• create rich teaching and learning experiences for both students and instructors
• improve student achievement and engagement by promoting strong linkages between the arts and more traditional academic areas
• advocate for the inclusion of rigorous arts instruction in every student's education
• serve as a national model for public school/university partnerships

What are our partners saying about ASAP?

"Franklin is so fortunate to have the support and dedication of U of I's Center for Education In Small Urban Communities. Sonia and the instructors have been blessings to Franklin's staff, students, and school community. Words cannot express how thankful we are to have this program at Franklin. Thank you for everyone believing in us!!"
- Sara Powell, Franklin Middle School Dean of Students

"This project created a fabulous learning environment for our students. It was exciting to be part of a real teaching/learning circle. Teaching in ASAP created a real, yet ideal situation for beginning teachers."
- Jan Erkert, Head of the Department of Dance at the University of Illinois

What is ASAP?

Launched in the fall semester of 2008, ASAP is a unique partnership between the University of Illinois and local public middle schools. In collaboration with the College of Education, the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities, the College of Fine and Applied Arts, and the Champaign and Urbana School Districts, ASAP provides high quality visual and performing arts instruction at no cost to public middle school students in our community. ASAP utilizes faculty and students from the College of Fine and Applied Arts and thereby creates rich teaching and learning experiences for both students and instructors.

How are the classes ASAP provides different from traditional arts education?

Each ASAP unit is designed to meet the unique needs of the school in which it operates. The programming is highly flexible, and responsive to the changing needs of the students it serves. In addition, ASAP is interdisciplinary and collaborative in its approach to after school arts education. ASAP provides the opportunity for improved student learning and engagement by including a myriad of performing and visual arts educational experiences, as well as promoting a strong linkage between the arts and more traditional academic areas. This synthesis both within the arts curriculum and across the arts, sciences, and humanities areas, helps define and structure ASAP's distinctive, high quality programs.

ASAP also provides linkages to rich cultural opportunities within the campus and community. Students' horizons and understandings of the world are expanded via their access to the Colleges of Fine and Applied Arts, Education, Engineering, and Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as to campus-based resources such as Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Krannert Art Museum, Spurlock Museum, and the Center for World Music. ASAP also reaches out to community-based art initiatives, and encourages trips to theaters, exhibits and events outside the students' immediate neighborhood.

The ASAP team, in collaboration with school staff, endeavors to admit students that represent the inherent diversity of the student body with consideration made to each student's race, gender, physical ability, socioeconomic status, and language.

Where can I find ASAP Classes?

We currently serve students in both Franklin and Urbana Middle Schools.

How can I get ASAP classes at my school?

Please contact Sonia Warfel, ASAP Program Coordinator, swarfel2@illinois.edu

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