Education for the Arts presents an annual artistic repertoire, known as the EFA Rep, that is available to more than 100 schools within the Kalamazoo RESA service area. The EFA Rep includes professional works of art in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and, occasionally, other disciplines. Schools access the works of art at little to no cost depending on the show, the student grade level, and the EFA programs in which they participate.
Aesthetic Education Program
The Aesthetic Education Program provides K-8 classrooms with free admission to up to three works of art on the EFA Rep. Schools are assigned a professional Teaching Artist for each work of art. The Teaching Artists and Aesthetic Education-trained classroom teachers collaboratively plan and facilitate inquiry-based, experiential lessons designed to prepare students to view the works of art and to reflect after the viewing experiences. The bus rebate applies to all Aesthetic Education Program field trips.
Alternative Arts Initiative
The Alternative Arts Initiative is available to alternative education schools and special education classrooms. The program provides free admission to select works of art, along with specialized Teaching Artist residencies designed to prepare students to engage deeply with the works of art. The bus rebate applies to all Alternative Arts Initiative field trips.
EFA Presents! Program
The EFA Presents! Program is available to K-12 schools in the KRESA service area. EFA Presents! provides students with free or low-cost admission to the works of art on the EFA Rep. The fees vary according to student grade level and the work of art, as noted below.
Elementary and Middle Schools | Limited Free Admission
Elementary and middle schools receive one free admission credit per enrolled K-8 student. For example, a school with 300 students may request up to 300 admission credits for the school year. The credits may be redeemed for free admission to any combination of performances available on the EFA Rep. Free admission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis and until performances are sold out.
New this year! All visual arts exhibitions are available to K-8 schools for free and do not use admission credits. This includes docent-guided tours of Legendary: New Perspectives On The Kalamazoo Institute Of Arts Collection and booking the Cross Currents: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints traveling exhibition. This means that a K-8 student could experience one performance plus both visual arts exhibitions with no admission cost.
If a K-8 school uses all of its credits, but wants to attend additional performances, it may purchase extra admissions at a cost of only $2 per student. To ensure every student has the opportunity to participate, priority will be given to schools using their free ticket allotment before purchased tickets are granted.
K-8 schools also receive educational prep materials and the bus rebate.
High Schools | Subsidized Admission Fee
High schools may purchase admission at a heavily subsidized rate for most works of art. Admission costs $2 per student for performances and $100 per school for the Cross Currents: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints traveling exhibition. Admission is free for docent-guided tours of Legendary: New Perspectives On The Kalamazoo Institute Of Arts Collection.
High schools receive educational prep materials, but the bus rebate does not apply.
PACE Program
The PACE Program provides K-8 students participating in creative movement and creative drama residencies with free admission to attend a professional dance or theater performance. The specific performance depends on the discipline being studied and the semester in which the class is participating. For example, the Fall creative drama students are invited to the Fall theater work of art. The bus rebate applies to all PACE Program field trips.