Cultural Experiences Project

Cultural Experiences Project (CEP) was launched during the 2005-2006 school year to afford every APS student from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade the opportunity to experience the city’s premier art and cultural venues. Every student in APS will have at least one onsite cultural experience at a cultural venue each year that directly ties to Georgia Standards of Excellence and curriculum goals. Teacher and student educational materials further the students’ understanding of arts and culture and compliment the age and grade level-appropriate experiences. The idea is “one grade, one venue, guaranteed." Art or cultural venues agreed to provide a cultural experience for each APS grade level and APS provides transportation. Every student will experience the wealth of Atlanta’s cultural venues at no cost to the student.

The purpose and learning outcomes of the initiative are:  

• Further students’ understanding of art and culture.  
• Increase students’ exposure and knowledge of art and cultural institutions.  
• Enrich students' education beyond the walls of the classroom and reinforce Georgia Standards of Excellence for core curriculum subjects (language arts, math, science, and social studies), visual arts, literary arts, dance, theatre, and music.  

How does it work?  

Each school will have one designated contact, a Cultural Experiences Project In-School Coordinator.   

Trips for each school will be confirmed by the In-School Coordinator with the Arts Department in early August. Study guides will be sent to the In-School Coordinator approximately six weeks before the scheduled trip. Transportation and details will be confirmed multiple times before each trip.  

Field trips do make a difference! Check out the research developed by Dr. Jay Greene at the University of Arkansas based on our students' experiences at the Woodruff Arts Center during the Multi-Visit Program (MVP).  

Altered Attitudes and Actions: Social-Emotional Effects of Multiple Arts Field Trips  

Does Art Make You Smart? A Longitudinal Experiment of the Effects of Multiple Arts-Focused Field Trips