What We Do
At Ingenuity, we’re transforming arts education in Chicago Public Schools. We collect CPS arts education data on behalf of the district, develop powerful data tools, invest directly into schools through the Creative Schools Fund, and foster collaboration among schools, arts organizations, and public sector leaders to ensure every student—at every grade level, in every school—has consistent, high-quality access to the arts. Our mission is grounded in equity, sustainability, and the belief that arts education is essential for all.
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180%
Increase in Percentage of CPS schools Rated as Excelling in Arts Education Access and Quality since 2012-13
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12 Years
of Arts Education Data Collection and Reporting
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400
Arts Organizations Partnering with 600+ CPS schools
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$24M+
Invested in CPS Schools through the Creative Schools Fund
Driving Impact Across the City
We strengthen the systems that support arts education, ensuring that every CPS student, no matter their neighborhood or background, has access to the arts.
Collecting data and providing the insights that fuel data-driven strategy.
We collect arts education data on behalf of CPS and produce tools and reports that help schools, arts organizations, the CPS Department of Arts Education, district leaders, funders, and public sector leaders understand the current state of arts education access —and where opportunities remain. These valuable insights inform equity-focused strategies that expand access and quality across the city. Explore Data & Research
Building capacity, connection, and collaboration across the arts.
We support CPS educators and arts partners with professional learning and relationship-building tools that make arts education more impactful and equitable. We foster cross-sector opportunities for shared growth. Explore Partnerships & LearningKey initiatives:
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Professional learning
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Arts Partner Standards of Practice (APSP)
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Partnership matching and coaching
Changing the system so every student has access to the arts.
Ingenuity collaborates with stakeholders across Chicago to ensure all 300,000+CPS students have access to high-quality arts education. By strengthening a citywide network—from District leaders to grassroots organizations and students—we build the support needed to advance arts education policy at both the District and state levels. See the ImpactKey initiatives:
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State of the Arts Report, Dashboard, and Toolkit
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Public awareness campaigns
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Community & stakeholder engagement
Getting resources into the schools that need them most.
The Creative Schools Fund expands access to high-quality, teacher-led arts programs in every CPS grade. Grants prioritize schools with the greatest need, delivering immediate impact while building sustainable, long-term access to arts education for all students. Explore GrantsKey initiatives:
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Teacher-designed partnership residencies between schools and arts organizations
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Funds for Arts Essentials including materials, instruments & equipment