Research
MEETING REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES
WITH RESEARCH-BACKED SOLUTIONS
As students and teachers at underserved public schools face mounting challenges, the arts are offering promising solutions.
STUDENTS UNPREPARED
Many high school graduates lack the creative and critical thinking skills needed for college and careers. As technology shortens attention spans, fostering engagement, exploration, and persistence through creativity is vital. With 85% of employers seeking creative problem solvers, these skills are essential for future success.
UNEQUAL OUTCOMES
There is a persistent opportunity gap between wealthy, predominantly white students, and lower-income and students of color. Even though research shows the arts support academic achievement, these students often have the least access to quality education and arts programs. Integrating the arts into traditional teaching, increases opportunities for all students to excel.
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
Young people have been facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Studies show that engaging in creative activities lowers stress, fosters deep focus and concentration, and can help us imagine things beyond the present, equipping students to handle real-life ups and downs.
TEACHER BURNOUT
A recent Gallup poll shows teachers are among the most burned out of all workers. Years of mandated scripted curriculum and test prep have limited their creativity and made it harder to support students’ real needs. 81% of teachers report greater enjoyment of teaching when using arts-integrated strategies, and 68% say they’re more likely to remain in the profession under those conditions.
FROM RESEARCH TO RESULTS
HOW THE ARTS FUEL LEARNING
Based on decades of research-backed best practices, our programming invests deeply in teachers and principals because long-term, systemic change in public schools depends on empowering and equipping the adults in the system, not just on one-off programs or flashy interventions.
REPORT SPURS ARTS-DRIVEN SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION
The Turnaround Arts program launched following a landmark report that outlined the importance of arts experiences on child development and life outcomes, and identified the arts as a promising strategy for addressing dire conditions in public schools. The arts are critical for building confidence, collaboration, communication skills, teamwork, and discipline.
ARTS INTEGRATION BOOSTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Arts-integrated schools show stronger reading and math gains, especially for low-income and English Learner students—priority populations for Turnaround Arts. Instead of focusing on test prep, arts integration helps students “learn to learn,” building critical thinking and other skills that drive lasting academic success.
NEUROSCIENCE REVEALS EMOTIONS ARE KEY TO LEARNING
Brain research shows that students learn better when they can connect meaningfully and personally to what they’re studying — something that weaving the arts into the teaching of traditional subjects can enable. The same is true for teachers: those who find personal meaning in their work are more effective and build stronger relationships with students. Arts integration supports this.
TEACHERS EMPOWERED THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING
Our approach to teacher professional development is based on research about what works best — getting teachers involved in the same kind of creative, hands-on, and team-based learning that they’re designing for their students.
ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL
Customized Art Programs Built for Schools, by Schools
Every school community is unique and that calls for a custom setup to spark real engagement and build sustainable change. That’s why we partner with schools and together, develop programs to match their community’s interests and needs, turning arts into a meaningful game-changer instead of just an add-on. With a decade of hands-on experience, artist networks, solid research, and support in dozens of elementary and middle schools, we’ve fine-tuned this method to create lasting results.
Our partnership with Turnaround Arts has catalyzed a positive transformation, creating a vibrant and supportive environment where every member of our school community can thrive.
– Stockton Unified School District Superintendent
ALL HANDS ON DECK
It really does take a village to build strong schools. Families, artists, teachers, and school leadership all play vital roles in driving lasting improvement. Reports show that strong involvement from families, a supportive school climate, and effective leaders create the conditions for big gains in student achievement. Ensuring family support is particularly critical to ensure student success in school. Turnaround Arts help schools leverage community arts events to create a warm environment that welcomes families into the school community and encourages greater investment in their child’s education.
Schools with collaboration among teachers, families, and leadership are 10x more likely to improve student learning.
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“The arts should belong to everybody, and every kid should have the chance for a good education. Access to the arts and a high-quality education aren’t two different ideas, they are one reality.” – Frank Gehry
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