Our Holistic Approach to Arts Education
Artistic Dreams guides students through a complete journey – from inner transformation to world impact – all through the ADI curriculum and practice of visual arts.
Students discover how artistic practice can transform both their personal development and their ability to impact the world around them.
The Inner Journey
The first four pillars of our curriculum focus on exploring and expanding a student’s inner self – building the foundation for personal transformation through artistic expression.
The Outer Impact
The final two pillars extend this growth outward, empowering students to engage with their communities and create meaningful change in the world through visual arts.
Inner World: Art and Self-Love
Building the Foundation
The journey begins with self-acceptance. Through creative expression, students develop:
- Emotional safety and security
- Positive self-image and identity
- A Growth Mindset
- Healthy relationship with creative process
- Ability to express personal narratives
- Ability to turn on their inner light
Students create mandalas and express themselves through liberating art exercises that celebrate their unique identities and build a foundation of self-acceptance.
Inner World: Art and Mindfulness + Empowerment
Art and Mindfulness
Students develop presence and emotional regulation through:
- Breathing techniques paired with drawing
- Meditation and visualization practice enhancing creativity
- Stress reduction through artistic exercises
- Focused attention through creative flow
Art and Empowerment
Creating confidence and agency through:
- Creating a life mission and vision
- Identifying strengths
- Expressing and developing a voice
- Choosing accountability, integrity and commitment
- Choosing resilience and failure as opportunity
- Becoming a leader
Inner World: Art and Identity
Embracing Identity and Heritage
The fourth pillar completes the inner journey by connecting students to their roots:
- Exploring personal cultural background
- Recognizing current beliefs in need of transformation
- Emphasizing immigrant role models and strengths
- Developing cultural empathy
- Celebrating cultural identity through art
This pillar bridges the inner and outer worlds, preparing students to engage with global cultures from a place of self-awareness.
Outer World: Art
Global Artistic Traditions
Students explore diverse cultural art forms, techniques, and histories from around the world, building appreciation and cross-cultural understanding.
and World Cultures
Collaboration & Cultural Exchange
Through collaborative projects inspired by world cultures and through virtual cultural exchange, students develop curiosity about global perspectives and recognize the universal language of art.
Outer World: Art and Civic Engagement
Creating Change Through Art
The final pillar empowers students to use their artistic voices to address real-world issues:
- Community-based art projects (most often murals)
- Social justice and advocacy through art
- Suggesting awareness & solutions to world issues
- Intergenerational and community collaboration
- Creating life-long civic engagement
Students learn that their creative voices can inspire action and transformation in their communities and beyond.