HAMDEN, CT, May 19, 2025 — Arts for Learning CT is proud to announce a $5,000 grant award in support of Express Yourself, a joyful and inclusive arts learning program coming to Birch Grove Primary School in Tolland during the 2025–26 school year. The program will bring music, dance, theater, and visual arts experiences to all 552 students in grades K–2, supporting creativity, self-expression, and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
The Express Yourself initiative is designed to enrich student learning through a series of in-class workshops and school-wide performances delivered by professional Teaching Artists who reflect the diversity of Connecticut’s communities. Implemented over two weeks in the fall of 2025, the program will feature 20 hands-on classroom workshops and two engaging assemblies, ensuring every student has access to meaningful, high-quality creative learning experiences.
“Express Yourself is more than an arts program; it’s an opportunity for every student at Birch Grove to build confidence, explore their identity, and connect through creativity,” said Jed Kornbluh, Director of Business Development at Arts for Learning CT. “We’re thankful for this generous support, which helps bring meaningful, inclusive arts learning to Tolland’s youngest learners, 20% of whom are students of color, and 16% of whom live with disabilities.”
Birch Grove Primary School has committed over $2,000 in matching funds and has partnered closely with AFLCT to design a program that meets the needs of its students, 20% of whom identify as BIPOC, 16% qualify for Free or Reduced Price Meals, and 16% receive special education services.
The program is part of AFLCT’s broader mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. In 2023–24, the organization delivered over 1,700 programs at 184 sites across Connecticut, reaching more than 65,000 students, educators, and families.