Organization History

Artful Living and Learning, formerly The Artful Living Program, was created in 2008 by Wilbur Arnold and Christopher Craft. Both men were affiliated with the Massillon Museum and were inspired to do something to benefit the children in the Massillon community. The first year’s program started in the Massillon City School District preschool with a collaboration of services provided by the Canton Symphony, The Massillon Museum, The Ananda Center for the Arts, and The Massillon Public Library. From the beginning, Artful Living and Learning has included content lessons based on the Ohio Early Learning Standards and Ohio Fine Arts Standards. Support by education consultants from the Stark County ESC and local universities have helped to ensure the highest standards in the instruction.

The program has continued to expand. In the 2023-34 school year, more than 3,000 students in 24 Stark County public schools and affiliated preschools will enjoy one to four 20-minute arts integration lessons each week for 25 weeks.

Artful Living and Learning is sincerely grateful for the support of numerous foundations (ArtsinStark, the PNC Foundation, The Stark Education Partnership, The Stark Community Foundation, the Paul & Carol David Foundation, the George H. Deuble Foundation, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, The Aultman Foundation, and more). In-kind support from the Massillon Museum, the SCESC, and the Massillon City School District, have provided facilities and staff to implement and grow the program.