ArtistYear is a service organization born out of the traditions of service and dedication to artistic excellence and expression.
Our History
Based on the belief that arts education is a fundamental right of all children, regardless of economic status, ArtistYear founders Margo Drakos and Elizabeth Warshawer created a National Service Arts Corps. ArtistYear would recruit, train, and place exceptional artists of all disciplines to serve as full-time AmeriCorps Resident Teaching Artists (RTAs, formerly known as Fellows) in schools receiving Title I funding for a year of service. Each artist would bring their unique skill set to a K-12 school to serve full-time and provide arts education to students who otherwise may not have had access to creative learning opportunities.
ArtistYear was launched as a pilot program in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia in 2016 and became the first AmeriCorps State and National program dedicated to service through the arts in 2017.
ArtistYear provides exceptional artists with an opportunity to use their art to make a difference in the lives of children, in schools, and in communities while offering professional development that prepares them to be competitive in the workforce following their service year.
Since placing three Resident Teaching Artists in the first year of our Philadelphia-based partnership, ArtistYear has expanded to serve eight distinct regions in seven states.
424 Resident Teaching Artists placed
More than 87,745 K-12 students served
533,100 hours of arts education delivered
Our Future
Based on ArtistYear’s past success, we continue to hone our program and expand our reach to serve more students and communities. In the 2024-25 school year, ArtistYear expanded to 4 new states – Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio – and continues to grow in regions – including new locations such as Sitka, Alaska – where creative learning is most needed.
