OUR PROGRAMS

In our work towards accomplishing this vision, throughout the school year Leap Teaching Artists team with Bay Area primary and secondary school teachers.  Our Teaching Artists become residents in public and private schools, where we design participatory projects to augment and amplify the school's curriculum.  Our purpose is to interweave all aspects of learning with the creative process.

Leap is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1979 as a response to the passing of California Proposition 13, which dramatically reduced state funding for education and effectively eliminated the arts from public elementary schools.  Leap served 180 children in one school in its first year with hands on experiences in the arts.  Over the years, Leap expanded its programs and a dynamic group of Teaching Artists joined the Leap roster to provide innovative arts instruction in their specific area of expertise.  Residencies took place in more schools with each passing year, and covered a wide range of artistic disciplines, including architecture, painting, sculpture, murals, storytelling, theater, multi-media, music, and dance.  Today, Leap residency programs provide over 8,000 elementary and middle school students in over 40 schools across the Bay Area with hands-on learning experiences in the arts that enhance their overall education and prepare them for future success in school and in their communities.

We have found that the involvement of Leap Teaching Artists in schools increases self-esteem, confidence, self-expression, and awareness of diversity.  Further, Leap works to increase motivation in all students, and deepen understanding in other academic areas such as math, science, language, and social studies.  Please see our Annual Report and Evaluation and Site Visit Report for more detail on our outcomes.

Leap's programs help children not only become artists, but also develop valuable skills which are essential for success in the 21st century: creative problem solving, critical thinking and self-confidence. These skills transform students into future leaders and critically adept thinkers.