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Celebrating the Arts
Dear Families and Colleagues,
As an educator and as a parent, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact of the arts on our young people. When students explore and experience the arts—whether they’re using a paintbrush or a prop, a camera or a clarinet—their self-confidence, critical thinking skills, and creativity flourish.
That is why I’m proud of the work we are doing at NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) to promote arts education, making our school communities even more vibrant and expressive spaces. Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, we increased our funding for the arts and grew the number of full-time arts teachers across our system. We’ve invested in the ArtsHub, an NYCPS arts center in Brooklyn, where students can interact with professional artists and where educators can gain support in centering the arts in their schools. And we have expanded our Student Arts Pathways, including violin lessons for Pre-K students, summer arts programming, and inter-borough steelpan and drumline festivals.
In a cultural center like New York City, artistic inspiration is everywhere—and I want to thank the educators, community partners, funders, and more who help bring that inspiration into our classrooms. Every day, you are helping our students find their voices and discover new passions.
In partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
Chancellor
The Chancellor’s Spotlight:
This week, we held our annual Arts in Schools event at our NYCPS central office, where we celebrated the impact of arts education. The event included a performance by the Jazz House Teacher Fellows, a new fellowship for NYCPS music teachers to build community and enhance their practice. For a recap of the celebration, check out our Highlight Video.
Nominate a person or program for The Chancellor’s Spotlight here.
Our Highlight Video:
For translations, please visit our YouTube page.
NYCPS News and Resources:
- Check out student opportunities this December on The Morning Bell.
- For additional news and resources, follow NYCPS online at Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
- For weekly video updates from Mayor Eric Adams, visit the Mayor’s Office YouTube page. You can also sign up to receive updates directly from the Mayor's Office.