Family Arts and Creativity

What is Family Arts and Creativity?

Family Arts and Creativity (FAC) is designed to strengthen child-parent relationships, build parent-teacher partnerships, and enrich the school community.  The program was launched in 1998 in partnership with the Center for Family Involvement in Schools at Rutgers University.  It is modeled on the highly successful Family Math and Family Science programs.

Each family workshop engages parents and their young children in open-ended arts activities structured around a central theme, such as family traditions, or the expression of emotion.  Through modeling, professional development and coaching, FAC prepares teachers to lead family arts workshops in their own school community.

Family Arts and Creativity:

  • Addresses multiple intelligences by using many art forms:  dance, music, storytelling, drama, puppetry, sculpture and more!
  • Prepares teachers and staff to develop and deliver family programs
  • Engages parents and children in an exploration of ideas and materials
  • Encourages collaborative problem solving and group discussion
  • Celebrates individual inventions, and innovative solutions

A Five-Session FAC series Includes:

  • One full day of Professional development for 25 teachers, with two YA staff/artists
  • Five 1-hour workshops for fifteen to twenty families (one parent and one child per family)
  • Materials and online  resources