Aspen Education Foundation has forged a dynamic new partnership with Anderson Ranch Arts Center. This collaboration, implemented for the first time during the 2023/2024 school year, aimed to enrich the educational journey of students across all levels – from elementary to high school. The initiative included a comprehensive range of programming designed to integrate art-making and contemporary practices into the District’s curriculum, particularly complementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework. Through this innovative approach and programming, students benefited from mentorship programs, studio art experiences, field trips, and workshops, all geared towards fostering creativity and enhancing students’ academic pursuits.

Key highlights of the partnership included immersive workshops such as a hands-on glaze experiment for fifth graders at Aspen Middle School, where students explored chemical reactions in ceramics. Additionally, third graders from Aspen Elementary participated in enriching field trips to Anderson Ranch, aligning with Colorado State Standards in Visual Arts. At the high school level, a new mentorship program offered aspiring artists opportunities to develop their skills in ceramics, digital fabrication, printmaking, painting, and photography. This initiative not only encouraged artistic exploration but also aimed to forge meaningful connections between students and their community through artistic expression.

We are thrilled to be able to bring this program to all of our students and to have embarked on a new partnership with Anderson Ranch, one of the most renowned art centers in the country.