Community schools of the arts have long provided high quality arts education to members of their communities--regardless of age, artistic aptitude, or ability to pay. This Monograph provides an overview of community schools of the arts and their potential benefits to your community, as well as ways local arts agencies and other community organizations can tap these vibrant resources.

Americans for the Arts’ Monograph series featured in-depth issue papers on topics that were of the greatest interest to our members and arts professionals at the time. They often still serve as excellent resources for best practices and historic reference for today’s issues. Monographs were produced from 1993–2010. Monographs from 2001-2010 are available for downloadable in PDF format our online store at a nominal fee for nonmembers but free to members. All monographs from 1993-2000 are available for free download via the National Arts Administration and Policy Publications Database.

This Monograph provides an overview of community schools of the arts and their potential benefits to your community, as well as ways local arts agencies and other community organizations can tap these vibrant resources.