Artists in Public Schools creates artists residencies in CPS to provide expansive experiences for professional artists, school communities, and students.
The Chicago Public School (CPS) system is the nation's fourth largest school district, serving over 325,000 students in 634 schools. Further, CPS predominantly serves students of color, with 70% of CPS students reported to come from low-income households. Research underscores that students from disinvested communities benefit significantly from arts programming, which fosters critical thinking, community building, and civic engagement (Source: NEA, Arts Education in America).
Artist-founded in 2017, Artists in Public Schools (formerly CPS Lives) was created by photographer Suzette Bross to integrate artists and cultural producers into CPS through paid artist residencies. Artists in Public Schools offers these artist residencies to CPS at zero-to-low cost, ensuring accessible collaboration between the artists, the students, and the school community. Since its inception, Artists in Public Schools has transformed public school environments into vibrant hubs of creativity, cultivating opportunities for professional, working, and emerging artists to connect with CPS students and faculty to create meaningful art experiences.
Over the course of an Artists in Public Schools artist residency, CPS students and faculty are connected with professional artists, encouraged to explore their own creativity, and collaborate on meaningful artwork. Working together, the unique stories of students and public schools are celebrated through art and creativity that can be widely celebrated throughout the city. Artists in Public Schools ultimately showcases these artworks – these stories – by exhibiting them at local community spaces, virtual and in-person gallery shows, and internationally renowned art fairs.
Artists in Public Schools makes art a vital part of public schools. Each donation fuels collaborations that inspire students and elevate artists, bringing diverse voices to the forefront of Chicago’s cultural landscape. All donations, no matter the amount, are greatly appreciated and help our organization make a lasting impact on the lives of artists, CPS students and faculty, and their communities.
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Join us for the 2026 Gala!
Sponsorships, tickets, auction bids, and donations directly fund our artist residencies, student workshops, public art installations, highlight the accomplishments of our talented residency artists, and much more.
Gala guests will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, inspiring remarks by artist Dorian Sylvain and others.
Special musical performance by Guitars Over Guns led by our 2026 honoree Andre ‘Add-2’ Daniels!