Bring creativity into your classroom with professional development designed by educators and artists for educators!
ArtReach offers engaging, hands-on professional development experiences that give teachers practical strategies, creative ideas, and ready-to-use art activities they can bring directly into their classrooms. Whether you’re looking to integrate art into your existing curriculum, build community through creative expression, or simply bring more creativity into your teaching, we’ll meet your team where you are.
Choose from a Variety of Topics
Our professional development workshops can be customized to meet the needs of your school or team. Topics include:
- Contemporary Artists in the Classroom — Explore artists, artworks, and creative practices that connect to the world students live in today.
- SEL Through Art — Learn how art-making can support self-awareness, self-expression, relationship building, and classroom community.
- Integrating Art Across the Curriculum — Discover ways to use visual art to deepen learning in ELA, science, social studies, math, and beyond.
- Art Strategies for Teachers — Build your creative toolkit with approachable techniques, prompts, and teaching strategies that can be used with any age group.
- Process Over Product — Explore process-based art experiences that encourage experimentation, problem-solving, and creative risk-taking.
- Art & Identity — Use art to help students explore identity, culture, belonging, and the many ways we see ourselves and our communities.
- Creative Classroom Community — Learn art-based strategies for building connection, encouraging student voice, and creating a welcoming classroom environment.
- Teaching Through Inquiry — Explore ways to use questions, observation, discussion, and curiosity to help students engage more deeply with art and learning.
- Culturally Responsive Art Education — Discover artists, perspectives, and creative practices that help students see themselves and their communities represented in the classroom.
- Low-Prep Art Activities — Learn simple, engaging art projects and strategies that require minimal materials and can be adapted across grade levels.
Learn It. Make It. Use It.
Our professional development is designed to be immediately useful. Participants will:
We provide lots of resources and take-home materials to help you continue exploring and applying what you learn long after the workshop ends.
We Come to You — or Host You at ArtReach
Professional development can take place at your school site or at our creative space in Hillcrest. We can work with your team to customize a workshop around your goals, grade levels, curriculum, and interests.
Ready to bring some creativity to your next staff meeting or professional learning day?
Reach out to sierra@artreachsandiego.org to schedule a professional development experience for your team.
Want to start exploring right away? Free Resources for Educators!
Discover practical strategies and creative activities for using art to support social-emotional learning and meaningful classroom experiences.
Professional Development FAQs
Are these workshops only for art teachers?
Our professional development workshops are not just for art teachers! We welcome classroom teachers, community organizations, homeschool educators, professionals in art education, and individuals who are interested in integrating more art education into their curriculum and programming.
I teach children, but not at a public school. Is this for me?
Yes! These workshops are ideal for public and private school teachers, teaching artists, homeschool educators, and individuals who want to explore creative practices while gaining professional insights into integrating contemporary art, SEL, and innovative projects into their work with students or communities. We welcome participants of all backgrounds and skill levels.
How are these workshops connected to SEL competencies?
Our SEL workshops are directly aligned with the ArtReach SEL competencies supported by the CASEL 5 SEL framework, focusing on core competencies such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Participants will learn how to incorporate these competencies into creative practices to foster deeper emotional and social learning.
What takeaways will I receive?
You’ll leave our workshops with a wealth of valuable resources, including detailed lesson plans and actionable strategies for integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) into your curriculum. Participants will also gain access to student resources, innovative project ideas that foster creativity and collaboration, and tools to effectively implement SEL competencies in your classroom. Additionally, you’ll explore ways to integrate contemporary art themes, encouraging students to connect their creative expression with current social issues and cultural conversations. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with fellow educators and share insights, ensuring you feel empowered to make a meaningful impact in your teaching practice.
How long are the workshops?
Each workshop is 2 hours long, providing ample time to explore art techniques and engage in meaningful discussions about SEL and its application through creative projects.
How do I sign up for a workshop?
You can register for workshops through our website, here. Simply browse the available offerings, select the workshop that fits your interests, and follow the registration instructions.
What if I cannot attend this time? Will you offer this class again?
Absolutely! We regularly offer our workshops throughout the year, and we’re happy to bring them to your school or organization. If you can’t make it this time, reach out to us with your availability, and we’ll keep you informed about future sessions. We’re also open to suggestions—if there’s a specific professional development topic you’d like to see, let us know! We can tailor workshops to meet the needs of your team and even host sessions directly at your site.
Can you come to my site and offer a private PD session for my staff?
Yes, we’d love to bring our workshops directly to your site and offer a private professional development session tailored for your staff! Please reach out to us at sierra@artreachsandiego.org for more information and to discuss scheduling options.
Will I receive professional development credits?
Yes, we are actively looking to provide professional development credits for our workshops! Stay tuned for updates on accreditation details as we finalize our offerings. We want to ensure you receive the recognition you deserve for enhancing your skills and knowledge through our sessions.
Can I get a discount for signing up for multiple sessions?
Yes! At checkout, you will automatically get $10 off of a bundle of three sessions.
What is your cancellation policy?
We understand that schedules change. Cancellations made at least 48 hours in advance will receive a credit towards a future workshop. Please see individual workshop policies for more details.
How can I stay informed about upcoming workshops?
Join our mailing list and follow us on social media for the latest updates on upcoming workshops, events, and special offers.
Inquire about a Professional Development workshop
Contact: Sierra Aguilar, Education Resource Manager at sierra@artreachsandiego.org