Virginia Arts Festival Education programs reach 30,000 area school children each year through student matinees, in-school performances, artist residencies, and master classes. Students work side by side with renowned musicians, dancers, actors and playwrights.

As area public schools cut arts education budgets, Virginia Arts Festival outreach helps fill that gap, making opportunities in arts education available to all students, many in low-income neighborhoods.

Virginia Arts Festival programs support teachers, links the arts with core curricula including language arts, math, and science. Bringing artists into the classroom offers new ways to engage and encourage students.