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The School Art Program is the MetLife Foundation's collaboration with Studio in a School, which gives students the opportunity to make lasting impressions on their schools by creating large-scale artworks for permanent installation. Each year, several STUDIO program sites are carefully chosen, based on the potential and thoughtfulness of their project proposals. The schools we identify are typically in the most impoverished areas of the city, where students would otherwise have little or no opportunity to participate in visual arts experiences at school.
Since 1986, this partnership has brought innovative, dynamic works to over 50 public schools citywide, presenting the best in what private / public partnerships can offer. Click right to view highlights from this program's recent success stories. The exploration process of a theme by STUDIO artists, students, and school staff is an integral component of the program. Many schools choose to celebrate special characteristics of their school or neighborhood culture - its history, diversity, or artistic spirit - through painted wall murals, tile mosaics, or interactive sculptures. In thinking of how the artwork will impact their school environment, the students develop an understanding of public art and the significance of an artist's role. Such large-scale projects go through many stages and require students, with the help of artists, to plan a project with a lasting impression as they learn group cooperation. To acknowledge the long-term effort that goes into these projects, the School Art Program also documents the students' process and sharing of the work. A video team films the children at work and interviews students, teachers, and principals about the project's impact. At three times during the year a photographer visits each site to capture different phases of the work. An exhibition highlights the works-in-progress through preliminary sketches, paintings, models, journals, and photographs. In addition, each school hosts a special event to unveil the artwork, inviting the school community to recognize the students' creativity and artistic contribution to their environment. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife for the purpose of supporting educational, health and civic and cultural organizations. Their goals are to strengthen communities, promote good health and improve education. The Foundation continues a tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement begun by MetLife at the turn of the century. Since 1990, MetLife and MetLife Foundation have contributed over $35 million to help ensure that children have the opportunity to make the arts part of their lives.  MetLife volunteers and students from Newcomers High School admire their "Pillars of Life" creation, displayed in MetLife's Midtown lobby.
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