Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Step Into Art in 2025!
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Step Into Art! We launched Step Into Art in 2005 through a partnership with the Newton Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs, and from that successful beginning, went on to develop programs serving students in schools all over Boston. Step Into Art has now reached more than 6,000 children.
In May, we celebrated our 20th anniversary in Gutman Gallery at the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a magnificent exhibition of artwork and writing by sixth graders in our annual program with Mother Caroline Academy. As the students presented their self-portraits inspired by artist Gio Swaby to a full-house of parents, friends, and supporters, they made everyone incredibly proud.
All year long, third graders in our deeply-rooted partnerships with five Boston public schools brought their joy to SIA programs. We are honored to work with the Murphy K-8 School and the Lee Academy Pilot School in Dorchester, the Haley Pilot School in Roslindale, the Guild Elementary School in East Boston, and the Warren-Prescott K-8 School in Charlestown.
Step Into Art is unique in the Boston arts education landscape, offering a bridge between schools and museums. Our innovative model leads from classroom to museum and back again, actively engaging young students with great works of art, building excitement and connection, and giving all students the chance to shine through multiple modes of learning. Kids “step into art” through observation and discussion, posing and acting, music and dance, storytelling, sketching, self-portrait-making, and writing.
We have developed programs bringing students to the MFA, the Gardner Museum, the Harvard Art Museums, and the Peabody Essex Museum. Over the years, students have created expressive art of their own inspired by artists ranging from Rembrandt and John Singleton Copley to Picasso and Jackson Pollock to contemporary artists Kehinde Wiley, Ekua Holmes, Bisa Butler, and Gio Swaby.
We look forward to stepping into our next decade with programs that continue to offer wonder and uplift, discovery and imagination, creative expression and an expanded world — experiences of art that nurture all our students.
