Arts and Cultural Education

The Erie 1 BOCES Arts in Education (AIE) service provides opportunities for component districts to access diverse arts resources for their educators and students. These opportunities allow students to explore different cultural areas of interest in Western New York, while never leaving their classrooms. Partners have a number of different presentations for students. One may include a traveling trunk filled with artifacts, where another might include an art performance.

The Exploratory Enrichment program allows students to visit areas of cultural significance in the area for a first hand learning experience that ties in with the Next Generation learning standards. With some of our partners, Erie 1 BOCES staff developers can help support students and staff in a 4 day experience, both on-site and in the classroom for students to experience collaborative intensive learning, using Model Schools days. Partners with the Exploratory Enrichment program span a wide variety of curriculum areas and Erie 1 BOCES is happy to help teachers identify the best program for their students.

Our K-12 Camp shows, school assembly programs, summer programs, school shows, cultural enrichment programs and lyceums are unique, entertaining and educational. In alternative words, our school assemblies are exceptional!

We take the worry and hassle out of bringing the best school assembly programs, Virtual Summer Camp Shows, Virtual shows, summer camp shows, school assemblies, red ribbon assemblies, school shows, assemblies, cultural enrichment programs, and lyceums to your school. We specialize in finding the very best in quality, educational entertainment for each category of school assembly programs, summer camp show, school show, school assemblies, lyceum, and cultural enrichment program. We bring our school assemblies right to your school.

 The Aquarium of Niagara collaborates with educators, community partners, and other institutions to meet the goal of connecting people to nature, promoting the conservation of aquatic life and ecosystems, and developing stewardship of natural resources. We welcome visits, outreach requests, curriculum integration collaborations, and student mentoring and advising opportunities from teachers, schools, school districts, youth programs, and any organization engaged in environmental education across the Western New York region. Established programs offered are listed below and the Aquarium Education Department is in the process of expanding and broadening the content and opportunities we offer. 

For over 10 years, The Art of Education University has been helping visual art educators grow. Over that time, our accredited institution has learned a tremendous amount about what art teachers want and don’t want. With that expansive and valuable knowledge and expertise, The Art of Education University has evolved into a highly innovative curriculum and professional learning resource as well as an accredited university in Arts education.

By leveraging three areas of expertise – technology, learning resources, and strategic implementation – The Art of Education University can provide a host of customizable curricula and personalized professional learning solutions aligned to state standards in addition to New York State Learning Standards for the Arts. CTLE #23348

The Art of Education University currently partners with dozens of districts across New York including

*Niagara Wheatfield
*Niagara Falls City
*Williamsville Central
*Letchworth Central
*Olean City
*Brighton Central
*Rochester City
*East Irondequoit
*Phelps-Clifton Springs
*Waterloo Central
*Trumansburg Central
*Horseheads Central
*West Genesee
*North Syracuse
*Syracuse City
*Liverpool Central
*Carthage Central
*and many more

 The future Buffalo AKG Art Museum is scheduled to open during the first half of 2023. Our vision is to flourish as an exceptional hub of artistic and creative energies that enriches and transforms people’s lives in our community, our nation, and the world. We strive for excellence, innovation, and sustainability in everything we do.

Our Learning and Creativity Department is made up of a dedicated team of museum educators and volunteers and offers a variety of public programs for audiences of all ages and abilities, including adults, teens, families, children, veterans, school groups, and visitors with disabilities. We partner with organizations across Western New York to engage visitors both within and outside the museum through programming and interpretation inspired by the museum’s collection and special exhibitions, including studio classes, talks, tours, mobile art initiatives, and more.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc. (the Society) is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization with a mission to inspire curiosity and connect people to the natural world through its historic living museum. The Botanical Gardens is a national historic site, education center and tourist destination full of exotic horticulture treasures from around the world. Visitors enjoy the amazing architecture and the indoor and outdoor garden sanctuaries. It is a gathering place where visitors can find peace and harmony and enjoy the simple power of the natural world. Some visitors also see it as a place for spiritual healing, meditation and reflection. 

The Buffalo History Museum has been Western New York's premier historical organization since 1862. We are the keepers of the authentic stories that make our community unique. Our collections, exhibits, and programs tell the stories of the people, events, and movements that demonstrate Western New York's essential place in shaping American history.

The BPO is proud to present educational programming that is developed with the assistance of music teachers and curriculum writers. The BPO Music for Youth Concert series offers educational concerts during the school day to introduce students to the best orchestral repertoire, with a focus on music learning concepts being taught in the classroom, and active participation through interactive program elements for students in Grades 1-8. Full-length (2 hour) BPO concerts on Friday mornings give students in Grades 7-12 a chance to hear complete pieces of repertoire in a casual atmosphere. To view all Music for Youth concert opportunities, please visit education.bpo.org.

BPO Teaching Artists bring unique arts engagement into your classroom through the dynamism of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's professional musicians. Presentations feature interactive music learning opportunities and authentic connections between music and other areas of learning, with an emphasis on artistic excellence and can meet varied classroom learning objectives. Your BPO understands the importance of arts engagement in developing creative thinkers and innovators who value learning over a lifetime. The BPO offers Classroom Programs that explore arts learning through movement activities, active listening and authentic connections between music and other areas of study. These musician-developed programs bring a unique perspective and a wealth of beautiful music to concepts you are teaching in your classroom. Programs can be adapted for your needs and specific age groups, Are you looking for a guest artist to work in-depth with your instrumental music students on repertoire, music fundamentals, instrument-specific techniques, performance techniques or even to speak on career readiness? Our musicians can work with your band, orchestra or instrumental section on individual and ensemble music proficiency. Choose an artist from your preferred instrument family and bring an expert into your music room to inspire the best from your students through the BPO's Workshop, Clinic, and Residency offerings. Explore all Teaching Artist programs at bpo.org/teaching-artists.

The Buffalo Zoo's Education team is here to provide your students with a WILD educational experience! Whether you're looking for a virtual program that will take you inside some of our animal exhibits, a presentation to enhance your Zoo field trip, or the Zoomobile to bring the Zoo to You, we can meet your group's learning needs. There are so many topics to choose from, including unique habitats, amazing adaptations, conservation, and so much more!  

The Burchfield Penney hosts hundreds of educators and their students every year, including preschool field trips, high-school workshops, and everything in between. When you book a tour, your visit will be customized to your needs and areas of study. Some of the possibilities include a Green Tour, an Architectural Tour, Ekphrastic Writing ELA tours and touring through the lens of science or math.

Education at the Center touches all areas of its practice. It is structured by three principles: Accessibility, Scholarship, and Community. Primary to its purpose is a commitment to foster a sense of wonder in every guest.

Student tours are $5.00 per guest, with an additional $5.00 when adding an artmaking experience. Artmaking is always connected to the learning that begins in galleries making for a seamless experience. This cost and transportation are fully refundable through the New York State Connect Kids Field Trip Grant.

Educator Workshops illustrating how to construct lessons using works of art and museum visits are available and can be tailored to your school’s specific focus and need.

Cleveland Play House, founded in 1915 and recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is America's first professional regional theatre. Throughout its rich history, CPH has remained dedicated to its mission to inspire, stimulate and entertain diverse audiences by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards.

Darren Sardelli is an award-winning poet and author who knows how to get students and educators excited about poetry. He's spoken at over 1,000 schools where he's transformed reluctant readers and writers into poetry fanatics. His poems have been featured on Radio Disney, in popular books on the Scholastic Book List, and appear in 25 children's books in the U.S. and UK. Darren's assemblies and writing workshops make poetry fun for everyone.

The Junkman –the ORIGINAL recycled materials percussionist! — and his bag of skateboards, road signs, brake drums, and other unusual items will captivate young minds with a STEAM-driven interactive experience that will entertain while teaching about music, science, the environment, inclusiveness, and kindness. All programs are fully customizable to meet your educational needs and feature The Junkman’s HOP (Help Our Planet) environmental education initiative, which has received Awards of Excellence from The United Nations, The Federal Republic of Mexico, and the Governor of Vermont.

The Junkman has just returned from five years in the UK, where he served as Ambassador for Arts Education for UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark.

Just as The Junkman teaches us to be kind to Mother Earth and each other, Junk Music has been very kind to the Grammy-nominated musician. Junk Music has been performed at classical, rock, new age, eco, future, opera, world, jazz and street events & venues worldwide, at stadiums with the likes of Eminem, Blink 182, The Black Eyed Peas, in television commercials for ESPN, The NBA, Electronic Arts, Air BnB, PowerDot, Nike, and Paddle to Live, in commissions for Twyla Tharp Dance, The Kennedy Center, American Dance Festival and American Ballet Theatre, and across all mediums, including Late Night with Conan O’Brien, CBS Sunday Morning, CBS News, National Public Radio, the BBC, Associated Press, and Billboard Magazine.

An educational children’s museum for ages 1-10! 

The Foundry is an active, community-based makerspace committed to regularly programming afterschool arts, STEAM and entrepreneurship sessions for youth; workforce development opportunities for young adults; hands-on classes for adults; and providing local entrepreneurs space and support for developing maker-based businesses. 

Experience the beauty of Graycliff and get swept away by its never-ending story.

A visit to Graycliff arouses a multisensory and overwhelming sense of place. This significant historic site, with buildings and grounds designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and gardens and landscape designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, was built between 1926 and 1931 as the summer home of Darwin and Isabelle Martin of Buffalo, New York. It is a place of love, joy, beauty and relaxation and of hardship, followed by renewal.

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, operated by the Carousel Society of the Niagara Frontier, is a premier national historic site and community resource for family recreation and learning that fosters an appreciation for the unique heritage of the carousel and related industries in the Niagara Region.
Through educational, cultural, and recreational programming, visitors will experience the places, people, stories and artifacts associated with the production of carousels, band organs and amusement devices. 

The circa 1810 Hull Family Home & Farmstead was built by Warren Hull, a Revolutionary War veteran who traveled west from New England with his wife Polly and their children.

From this site, the only fully restored stone dwelling of the early 1800's in Erie county, 200 years of history can be told – the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 & the burning of Buffalo, the opening and impact of the Erie Canal, early pioneer life, the abolitionist movement, and much more on into the 20th century.

Archaeological digs have revealed clues to how the family lived, worked and played, and have led to plans to reconstruct out-buildings and the farmstead. Open for scheduled events, school field trips, and by appointment.

Joshua Rivedal is the creator and founder of Changing Minds: A Mental Health Based Curriculum and The i'Mpossible Project. He is trained in community counseling from the Southern California Counseling Center; human capital management with an emphasis in coaching from NYU; and is also trained in QPR, ASIST, and the teacher's edition of emotional intelligence at Yale University's Center for Emotional Intelligence. He has spoken about suicide prevention and mental health across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. His original coursework on suicide prevention is taught in Washington State to various professions such as dentists, pharmacists, and occupational therapists. He wrote and developed the one-man play, Kicking My Blue Genes in The Butt, which has toured extensively throughout the world paired with suicide prevention education. His memoir The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitzvah is on The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's recommended reading list. His second book, The i'Mpossible Project: Volume 1—Reengaging with Life, Creating a New You, debuted #1 in its category on Amazon in January 2016. There are currently five books in the i'Mpossible Project series. He is a co-author of three journal papers, one on the trajectory of the survivor of suicide loss, another on the art of living with chronic illness, the third on surviving trauma. He has a certificate in food, nutrition, and health from Community College of Philadelphia. Joshua practices Taekwondo and achieved the rank of 1st degree black belt. He is a standup comic and cook, and lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  

At Junior Achievement we believe in “possible.” Each day, we work to help young people discover what’s possible in their lives. We do this by helping them connect what they learn in school with the life outside the classroom. We let them know it’s possible to invest in their future, to gain a better understanding of how the world works, and to pursue their dreams. We show them that it’s possible for tomorrow to be a better day.

Junior Achievement’s proven K-12 lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship are shown to positively impact the lives of young people. These lessons align with national and state educational standards and are delivered to millions of students across the country with the help of our education partners and volunteers from the local community.

Research shows that JA Alumni are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started a business as an adult.

Former Children's Poet Laureate (2013-15) Kenn Nesbitt is the author of more than 25 books for kids, including "My Cat Knows Karate," "Revenge of the Lunch Ladies," and many others. His poems have appeared in numerous bestselling anthologies, including every book in the popular "Kids Pick the Funniest Poems" series. His work has been published in hundreds of school textbooks and children's magazines around the world. Kenn visits scores of schools each year, sharing his wacky brand of poetry with kids nationwide, and helping to create a new generation of poetry lovers. His website, poetry4kids.com, is the most visited children's poetry website on the Internet. 

The Niagara Aerospace Museum is located in the "Old Terminal" of Niagara Falls International Airport one quarter mile west of the Niagara Wheatfield Bell Aircraft production facility. The Museum focuses on the contributions of Glenn Curtiss, Larry Bell, and Reuben Fleet to Aviation and Space Flight. The Museum exhibits include  aircraft, helicopters, and rockets, and much more as testaments to these aviation and space pioneers.

The Roycroft Campus is the best preserved and most complete complex of buildings remaining in the United States of the “guilds” that evolved as centers of craftsmanship and philosophy during the late 19th century, and is considered the birthplace of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. The Roycroft, designated a National Historic Landmark district (NHL) in 1986, contains nine of the original 14 structures including the Inn, the Chapel, the Print Shop, the Furniture Shop, and the Copper Shop.

Stitch Buffalo is a textile art center committed to: empowering refugee and immigrant women through the sale of their handcrafted goods, inspiring creativity and inclusion through community education, and stewarding the environment through the re-use of textile supplies.

The WNY Book Art Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of printmaking and the art & craft of the book. Our downtown location features an artist workspace, residency and exhibition programs, youth & adult education programs, a community-accessible print studio, and a retail artisan market. Onsite and within our community, in-person and virtually, Book Arts provides opportunities for artists, youths and community members to participate in a range of creative activities.