Exploring Creativity, Culture, and Community: Erie Arts & Culture’s Spring and Summer in Arts Education
This spring, Erie Arts & Culture and our partners brought hands-on arts and cultural experiences to nearly 1,000 students in Erie County through our pilot program, Educational Passport. Thanks to generous funding from Erie Insurance, we teamed up with six community institutions to design and deliver unforgettable experiences to K–5 students at Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary and Union City Elementary.
Our partners—the expERIEnce Children’s Museum, Erie Art Museum, Erie Playhouse, Erie Philharmonic, Hagen History Center, and Flagship Niagara League—each took the lead with a grade level, curating activities that blended learning with play. Students explored Erie’s history, tried musical instruments, attended live performances, and got their hands messy with artistic creations. Busing for these field trips was provided through support from the Women’s Fund at the United Way.
Some of the highlights included:
Kindergarteners welcomed visits from the expERIEnce Children’s Museum’s mobile museum and toured the museum itself.
First graders participated in a musical “petting zoo” hosted by Erie Philharmonic musicians.
Second graders took a field trip to the Erie Playhouse to see The Phantom Tollbooth, performed by a youth cast.
Third graders stepped into Erie’s past with a guided tour of the Hagen History Center.
Fourth graders designed and created hats in a hands-on workshop at the Erie Art Museum.
Fifth graders set sail aboard the Lettie G. Howard, exploring Erie’s maritime heritage.
Students and teachers alike raved about the experience—and we’re thrilled to share that Educational Passport will expand in the 2025–26 school year to serve even more young learners.
Summer Spotlight: Artists in Residence at the expERIEnce Children’s Museum
Improv Theater
Our partnership with the expERIEnce Children’s Museum didn’t stop with the school year. This summer, we’ve teamed up again to bring interactive artist residencies right into the museum!
In June, dance artist Diandra Jones led Dance Around the World, introducing young museumgoers to global dance styles, from Hawaiian hula to African rhythms.
In July, Sara Joy Fisher is bringing the laughs with Improv Theater—kids can don costumes and props to create characters and stories on the spot.
Coming up in August, artist Tara Shannon will teach Fiber Arts Basics, offering hands-on crafting experiences for children and families alike.
These residencies are free with museum admission, and you can drop in anytime during scheduled hours. Whether your child loves to move, perform, or create—there’s something for every kind of young artist.
Art Meets Science at Summer Camp
This summer, we’re also partnering with the Regional Science Consortium at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center to launch a new camp for students in grades 4–8: The Art of Science. This multidisciplinary camp explores the intersections of science and creativity, with weekly themes like The Science of Food, The Science of Fashion, and The Science of Art.
Campers will dive deep into sustainability-focused topics through engaging experiments, guest speakers, and workshops led by teaching artist Ashley Pastore and others. Camp runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 3:00 pm, and scholarships are available for qualifying students. [Visit the RSC website for registration info.]
We’re also proud to support Tara Shannon as she leads an all-ages acrylic painting workshop this July at the Allegheny Community Center in Warren, welcoming learners from young children to seniors.
