Expressive Arts Education Programs

There are many educational programs throughout the world that use the expressive arts in their own way to empower youth, build more inclusive societies, increase access to the arts, transform conflict, and so forth. For the most part, I have chosen to add to the list (and will continue to do so when possible) programs that also seek to teach additional concepts through transferable learning. I am not familiar with all of the programs listed below, and can only speak of the authenticity of the programs I am familiar with. The purpose of the following list is to:

1. portray the diversity of these programs throughout the world.
2. provide individuals who are looking to support a particular program with a comprehensive list in which to explore.

In addition, Porticus Arts has completed extensive research on the global community arts network as well: Community Arts Network Poster_Porticus CAL-FAS research

Expressive Arts Education Programs

• Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) (Kabul, Afghanistan) 
• Al-Kamandjati (multiple locations Palestine and Lebanon)
• American Music Abroad (multiple locations) 
• American Voices Association (multiple locations) 
• Anthropos Arts (Austin, Texas) 
• Art and Resistance Through Education – ARTE (NYC) 
• Believe in Music (Baltimore, Maryland)
• BuildaBridge (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) 
• Cambodian Living Arts (Cambodia) 
• Creativity for Peace (Israel/Palestine)
• Cultures in Harmony (multiple locations)
• The Center for Music National Service (USA)
• El Sistema (Venezuela + 55 countries)
  • El Sistema in the US and internationally 
    • Atlantic Music Project– Atlanta, GA
    • Austin Soundwaves– Austin, TX
    • Charleston Academy of Music– Charleston, SC
    • CityMusic Cleveland – Cleveland, OH
    • Community Music Works– Providence, RI
    • Community Opus Project– San Diego, CA
    • Corona Youth Music Center– New York City, NY
    • El Sistema-Colorado– Denver, CO
    • El Sistema- Salinas– Salinas, CA
    • First Notes – Avon, CO
    • Foundation to Assist Young Musicians– Las Vegas, NV
    • Harmony Program– New York City, NY
    • Harmony Project– Los Angeles, CA
    • Hartford Symphony Orchestra– Hartford, CT
    • Imagine Syracuse Young Musicians Project– Fayetteville, NY
    • Incredible Children’s Art Network– Santa Barbara, CA
    • Juneau Music Matters– Juneau, Alaska
    • Kids in Concert– Bainbridge Island, WA
    • KidZNotes– Durham, NC
    • Latino Arts LA– Los Angeles, CA
    • Metropolitan Youth Orchestra– Indianapolis, IN
    • Miami Choral Academy– Miami, FL
    • Miami Music Project– Miami, FL
    • MusiConnects– Roslindale, MA
    • Music Team San Francisco– San Francisco, CA
    • Music Haven– New Haven, CT
    • MYCincinnati– Cincinnati, OH
    • Oakland Public Conservatory of Music– Oakland, CA
    • Orchestrating Diversity– Saint Louis, MO
    • ORCH Kids– Baltimore, MA
    • People’s Music School– Chicago, IL
    • Play On Philly– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island Fiddle Project– Pawtucket, RI
    • San Jose Jazz– San Jose, CA
    • Scroll Works– Birmingham, AL
    • Seattle Music Partners– Seattle, WA
    • Soundscapes– Newport News, VA
    • Tune Up Philly– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Upbeat NYC– Brooklyn, NY
    • Verdugo Young Musicians Association– Pasadena, CA
    • Youth Orchestra Los Angeles– Los Angeles, CA
    • Youth Orchestra of the Lower 9th Ward– New Orleans, LA
    • Youth Orchestras of San Antonio– San Antonio, Texas
    • In Harmony– England
    • The Leading Note Foundation– Ottawa, Canada
    • Make A Big Noise– Scotland
• Heartbeat (multiple locations Israel/Palestine) 
• The HEARTbeats Foundation (multiple locations)
• Jazz & Democracy Project (USA)
• The Jerusalem Youth Chorus (Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine) 
• Jeunesses Musicales International (multiple locations)
• The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (USA)
• The Kako Foundation (Haiti)
• Manhattan New Music Project (New York City, NY)
• MECA (Houston, Texas)
• MEMA-Music (Chicago, Illinois) 
• Midori & Friends (USA)
• MusiCounts (Canada)
• Music Crossroads International (Southern African Region)
• Music in Common (multiple locations) 
• Music Unites (USA)
• Musicians Without Borders (multiple locations)
• Music & Youth Initiative (multiple locations in USA)
• Nvak Foundation (multiple locations)
• Nameless Sound (Houston, Texas)
• Oh Yeah (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
• Opus 118 Harlem School of Music (New York City, NY)
• Playing for Change Foundation (multiple locations)
• Polyphony Foundation (multiple locations Israel) 
• Roots of American Music (multiple locations USA)
• The Roots of Music (New Orleans, Louisiana) 
• The Silk Road Project (multiple locations) 
• Silwan Ta’azef Music School (East Jerusalem, Palestine)
• Spread Music Now (multiple locations USA)
• VH1 Save the Music (USA)
• The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (multiple locations)
• Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities, Inc. (YEAH!) (multiple locations USA) 
• ZUMIX (Boston, Massachusetts)