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PK-12 School Engagement

Bright yellow school buses arrive at the Center for the Arts ahead of a free matinee performance.

The Center for the Arts is dedicated to providing transformative arts experiences to young people through gallery tours, artist engagements, and special school-day matinee performances. These free events are open to public and private school students and their teachers, as well as homeschool students. Donor support to the Center for the Arts Fund for PK-12 Engagement, along with endowment support from the Elizabeth McIntosh Mitchell Trauger Excellence fund and Dr. Mark and Connie Froggatt Education Fund, makes these experiences possible. Fundraising plans are underway for an endowment to fully support PK-12 programs and initiatives.

  • 6,189 PK-12 students engaged (7% increase)
  • 53 participating schools (29% increase)
  • 13 school districts (18% increase)
  • 7 free school-day matinees

"Thank you for any way that we can enrich our students' educational experience! We appreciate field trips that align with our learning standards and afford students the opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom."

— Public school educator

Music Monday

For the second consecutive year, center engagement staff coordinated with students from Virginia Tech’s Marching Virginians to bring a special day of music to PK students in Giles County.

"Music truly brings some of these students to life; I'm so thankful they get to have such rich learning experiences like Music Monday through Giles County and the center."

— Macy McClaugherty Elementary/Middle School preschool teacher

A Virginia Tech student, a Marching Virginian, works with a PK student in Giles County during the second annual Music Monday event, hosted by the Center for the Arts
A Virginia Tech student, a Marching Virginian, works with a PK student in Giles County during the second annual Music Monday event, hosted by the Center for the Arts. Photo by Lev Birman

Study Guides

A study guide for each 2024-2025 season matinee performance and exhibition provided young audiences with greater context and insights, activities, and specific ties to Virginia Standards of Learning. Explore more study guides here!

PK-12 students enjoy a cirque performance at the Center for the Arts
The Cirque Kalabanté school matinee at the Center for the Arts. Photo by Lev Birman
The 123 Andrés school-day performance at the Center for the Arts.
The Center for the Arts presented 123 Andrés, including one matinee at the center and two in-school performances in Roanoke.

"This place is just magnificent. I came in feeling like a kid. I am leaving feeling like an artist."

— Fourth grade student

2024-2025 Participating Schools

Districts

  • Carroll County Public Schools
  • Floyd County Public Schools
  • Franklin County Public Schools*
  • Giles County Public Schools
  • Henry County Public Schools*
  • Lynchburg City Public Schools*
  • Montgomery County Public Schools
  • Pulaski County Public Schools
  • Radford City Public Schools
  • Roanoke City Public Schools
  • Roanoke County Public Schools
  • Salem City Schools
  • Smyth County Public Schools*

* First-time participant

Schools

  • Andrew Lewis Middle School
  • Arrows Homeschool Co-op
  • Auburn Elementary School
  • Auburn Middle School
  • Auburn High School
  • Baker Homeschool
  • Blacksburg Middle School
  • Blacksburg New Schools
  • Blue Mountain School
  • Carroll County Middle School
  • Check Elementary School
  • Children's Nest
  • Christiansburg Elementary School
  • The Christiansburg Hughes Center*
  • Christiansburg Middle School
  • CIRCLE Homeschool
  • Classical Conversations Homeschool
  • Community School
  • Eastern Elementary School
  • Floyd County High School
  • Floyd Elementary School
  • Franklin County High School*
  • Gilbert Linkous Elementary School
  • Giles High School
  • Harding Avenue Elementary School
  • Indian Valley Elementary School
  • Kipps Elementary School
  • Macy McClaugherty Elementary School
  • Magna Vista High School*
  • Margaret Beeks Elementary School
  • Monterey Elementary School*
  • Montessori Co-op
  • Narrows Elementary School
  • Narrows High School
  • North Cross School*
  • Northside High School
  • Northside Middle School
  • NRV Montessori
  • Preston Park Elementary School*
  • Price’s Fork Elementary School
  • Pulaski County High School
  • Pulaski County Middle School
  • Pulaski Elementary School
  • Radford High School
  • Rainbow Riders
  • Round Hill Elementary School*
  • Sandusky Middle School*
  • Shawsville Middle School*
  • Smyth County Middle School*
  • Tall Oaks Montessori School
  • Valley Classical School
  • Willis Elementary School