Partnerships & Learning
Ingenuity fosters meaningful, long-term partnerships between CPS schools and arts organizations, bringing educators and teaching artists together through shared values, clear standards, and ongoing support.
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14 Years
of Professional Learning Offerings for Arts Education Sector
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400
Arts Organizations Partnering with 600 CPS Schools
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15-20
Events and Trainings Held Annually
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1000+
People Served Annually
Collaboration Is the Foundation of Arts Education
Reaching every CPS student with meaningful arts education is a big task—and not one that we can complete on our own. We’re proud to work with over 400 partners in pursuit of holistic arts education.
Professional Development for Deeper Impact
Through our workshops, coaching, and toolkits, we equip arts liaisons, classroom teachers, and arts partners with the tools they need to build a stronger, more connected arts education network across Chicago.
Shared Learning, Shared Leadership
We’re proud to host events, panels, and co-learning experiences where educators, artists, and community leaders can reflect on challenges, exchange ideas, and shape the future of arts education together.
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Aug 12
REGISTERBack-to-School Arts Partner Gathering
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August 12, 2026
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1-4PM | CAPE, 1010 W 35th St, Suite 697, Chicago, IL 60609
Ingenuity's Back-to-School Arts Partner Gathering brings together arts partners, teaching artists, and CPS collaborators. Join us as we share important updates to help you prepare for the school year, including new and continuing guidance for school–arts partner collaborations, the upcoming Creative Schools Fund timeline, and the evolving Arts Partner Designation process. We'll also introduce new tools designed to support meaningful partnership planning and strengthen collaboration between schools and arts partners. Whether you're a long-time partner or new to working with CPS, we invite you to be part of this energizing kickoff to the school year as we connect, learn, and prepare to create high-quality arts learning experiences for Chicago Public Schools students.
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Sep 17
REGISTER
Fall Summit
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September 17, 2026
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4-7PM | Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612
Join Ingenuity for our annual Fall Summit, where new and returning arts partner organizations and school representatives come together for an evening of connection-making! The Fall Summit serves as a pivotal moment for arts partners organizations and CPS teachers and administrators to build connections, identify arts needs and interests within their schools, and explore programmatic possibilities.
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Arts Partnerships Across the District
Data from the 2024–25 State of the Arts showed a steep decline in arts partnerships — an important part of arts learning across CPS. While nearly 400 arts organizations have continued partnering with CPS schools each year since 2021–22, the total number of partnerships fell 8% over the past year. Declines appeared across several partnership indicators as well, reflecting changes not seen since the pandemic years. The number of schools with at least one arts partner dropped to 566 in 2024–25. At the same time, the median number of arts organizations working with each school fell for the first time since 2019–20, decreasing from three partners per school to two.
These shifts reinforce how schools and arts organizations alike are navigating a more challenging partnership landscape. This comes at a time when arts partnerships continue to play a critical role in expanding student access to arts education.
Arts Partnership Landscape at CPS
As reported in Ingenuity’s 2024-25 State of the Arts, nearly 400 arts organizations have partnered with CPS schools each year since 2021–22. The number of recorded arts partnerships fell by 8% between 2023–24 and 2024–25, down to just over 2,200 partnerships. By continuously tracking these trends, CPS can better meet evolving student needs, close opportunity gaps, and ensure every student has access to vibrant, high-quality arts education.
Arts Partners by Discipline
CPS arts partners are driving creativity across every discipline, with Music and Visual Arts leading the charge—supported by nearly half of all organizations! Theatre (40%) and Dance (35%) are close behind, reflecting a dynamic and consistent presence in the arts community. This diverse, cross-disciplinary engagement is fueling a vibrant, creative culture, ensuring students experience the full spectrum of artistic expression.
Hear from Partners
I’ve taught dance with Music House and in partner schools across Chicago for over 10 years, but this is the first time I’ve had the chance to teach in my own neighborhood. Thanks to Ingenuity, we now have a partnership with Little Village Academy, and I’m thrilled to bring my passion for dance home. It’s an honor to serve my community, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.”
— Kathleen Alvarado, Teaching Artist, 2024-25 Creative Schools Fund Grantee
Storytelling helps students recognize that their voices matter—that their families, cultures, and lived experiences have value. With support from Ingenuity, I’ve been able to guide young people at Langston Hughes Elementary through a journey of self-discovery and pride. ‘We All Have Stories’ is more than a project—it’s a reminder that our heritage lives on through the stories we choose to tell.”
— Mama Edie, Bilingual Storyteller, 2024-25 Creative Schools Fund Grantee
Ingenuity has been a game-changer in supporting our mission to provide students with meaningful arts education. Through our long-term partnership with Benjamin E. Mays Elementary, we’ve witnessed how the arts build confidence, ignite creativity, and connect students to their cultural roots. It’s more than just art—it’s about giving students a voice and a platform to express themselves, ultimately enriching their entire academic journey.”
— Sharon Mason, Urban Gateways, 2024-25 Creative Schools Fund Grantee