How We Operate

Cathedral Arts employs instructors to provide twice-weekly instruction in the visual and performing arts during the afterschool hours. Classes are led by exceptional teachers who are chosen for their ability to communicate with children as well as for their artistic ability.

Each week, 67 classes are held at public elementary schools as well as a few community centers. Priority for our programs is given to those schools with at least 62 percent of the students coming from families living below the federal poverty line.

Each student enrolled in our program receives two afternoons of quality instruction each week during the school year. We offer a wide variety of class curriculum but all incorporate the age appropriate benchmarks from the Florida Department of Education Sunshine State Standards.

Field trips to museums and performances as well as visiting artists in the classroom are often used to augment class instruction. Above and beyond the arts, teachers are also required to incorporate both literacy exercises as well as character building skills, such as cooperation, anger management, negotiation and compromise, assertiveness, and stress management into their classes.

Our curriculum includes the history and vocabulary of each art form taught, as well as its application and/or performance. Age-appropriate benchmarks from the Florida Department of Education's Sunshine State Standards are incorporated into all lesson plans. CAP's program also includes special mentoring curriculum in listening, cooperation, anger management, negotiation and compromise, assertiveness, stress management, and decision making.

For many of our students, when they create a work of art, or complete a musical or dance performance, it is the first time in their lives that they have accomplished something positive and beautiful. Seeing their work on exhibit, or hearing applause while on stage, they realize that they are successful, valuable individuals, and as such have a future beyond their current social and economic situations. They are motivated to set goals, finish school and become productive adults.