Focus In: ArtConnectED

ArtConnectED began in 2012 when two art educators asked the question, “What if we could create a state-level competition for high-school art students on a stage worthy of their talents where they could be recruited by colleges, similar to how athletes are for their athletic performance?”

This became the impetus for creating the Illinois High School Art Exhibition (IHSAE), a massive art extravaganza operated by teachers that has connected students to some amazing opportunities over the years.

From our humble beginnings with a few volunteers, IHSAE has grown into ArtConnectED, a thriving organization that has facilitated more than $700 million in scholarship offers, exhibition awards, and other remarkable opportunities for students that highlight and reinforce the power of art in their lives.

Venues and Partnerships
With a mission to enhance the creative educational landscape, we’ve formed partnerships with colleges such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, organizations such as the Illinois Art Education Association, and companies such as BLICK Art Materials.

We’re no longer a ragtag group of five art teachers, but a well-oiled 501(c)(3) nonprofit of thirty team members inspired by a shared objective to cultivate professional buy-in and support for big ideas to work. One example of this is our Mini Portfolio Days, a series of three college fairs where college representatives tell students about their programs and provide one-on-one portfolio reviews.

What Is the Art Throwdown?
The Art Throwdown is one of our signature events when in-person art-making and creative problem-solving happen and community members get to see the exciting process of ideation and creation firsthand. Some family members even help out by supporting props or holding a studio light. It’s heartwarming to see the pride on parents’ faces as they engage with their children’s talents.

Originally hosted as an in-person experience at our main event, the Art Throwdown became a linchpin program over the last four years, since it can happen virtually through Zoom.

We continue to host Throwdowns virtually throughout the year, expanding the pool of student artists to include those who live too far away to attend the event in person. People all over the world can tune into YouTube and watch these talented young artists respond to creative challenges in real time.

Each year, there are at least three virtual events featuring illustration, photography, and design challenges. We are also launching an expansion of our team-based Cardboard Challenge this year, with each school hosting a team during school hours to compete in front of their peers and broadcast via Zoom. Our main event continues to showcase our in-person figure drawing challenge in front of over 4,000 attendees annually.

Cultivating Community
As ArtConnectED has grown, we’ve seen our work benefit teachers. Educators who were once isolated now have a community that invigorates their practice and connects them with allies who have similar shared experiences. They can also participate in our Art Educator Exhibition, where Illinois K–12 art teachers can exhibit their own work in a professional gallery space.

Teachers are a vital piece of our program because they encourage their students to participate and follow their art school dreams and, in turn, energizing their curriculum. Currently, more than 1,700 students participate in our programs from more than 150 public, private, city, and suburban schools across Illinois. Students get to see what other high-performing art students are creating. One student told us, “IHSAE has consistently been the highlight of my year because it makes me feel connected to a wider art community… Since art is more of a solo activity, I didn’t get to directly experience it as a group event. This amplifies my efforts to chase the many generous rewards.”

Conclusion
ArtConnectED’s success is apparent to those who benefit from our organization, including the communities who enjoy the rewards of creativity, the students inspired by our programs, and the colleges who have the opportunity to interact with the best student artists in Illinois.