Art Start

Arts-Integration Programs

Art Start is an arts-based pre-literacy curriculum designed to improve reading readiness in Camden’s pre-school students. The ArtStart pre-literacy arts education project, now in its second year, is developing, integrating, documenting, evaluating, and implementing an arts-based curriculum for pre-kindergarten students. The program builds pre-literacy skills through visual arts, storytelling, dance, and theater in partnership with the Rutgers-Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership and the Camden Abbott Early Childhood Initiative. ArtStart will be incorporated into the literacy activities currently conducted by these organizations throughout Camden City.

ArtStart includes teaching artist workshops, professional development for Pre-school teachers and Instructional Assistants, parent workshops, performances of professionally staged adaptations of age-appropriate literary works, gallery explorations in visual literacy and object-based learning, storytelling, and other activities.