We offer teachers and students high quality and low-cost, or in some cases FREE, performances, educational resources, arts workshops, and exhibition or performance opportunities for students. Additionally, we provide valuable contact information about local artists, performers, and other arts resources for schools to utilize in developing an arts rich curriculum.

There are no fees charged to schools to participate in our program—in fact, we seek out underwriting in order to give schools the benefits of being an Imagination Celebration school. In addition to funding from local corporate underwriters, we generate funds from a Silent Auction event, as well as donations from business or individual sponsors. Imagination Celebration does not receive monetary support from Binney & Smith, Inc., maker of Crayola® products, although we are authorized to use the Dream-Makers® registered and trademarked name for the visual arts component of the Imagination Celebration program.

The Imagination Celebration Site categories are: Mini-Site [MS], Crayola® Dream-Makers® [DM], or Alumni-Site [AS] Schools. Elementary schools begin their three-year commitment as Dream-Makers® Sites, the visual arts component of the Imagination Celebration program. These schools receive the benefit of free art products and educational resources, access to workshops and a limited number of Teachers Resource Guides—this is an annual publication of 12 standards-based, visual arts lesson plans developed for K-6 th grade students. After completing the first year, schools graduate to be included in the Mini-Site program, the level where all middle and high schools automatically begin their three-year commitment. Funding from Imagination Celebration's Annual Silent Auction allows each Mini-Site to receive an annual $300 stipend - which they commit to match - resulting in $600 for arts-related activities for the current school year. Each school creates an Imagination Celebration "building committee" of parents, teachers and administrators who decide on the use of funds and how to integrate the arts into the existing curriculum. Imagination Celebration provides educational workshops and materials, resource people, art materials, performers, videos and special events to schools. After their three-year commitment, selected schools are invited to remain as active Alumni-Site schools for one additional year.

With the support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), we have selected rural school districts to participate as Outpost Sites [OS]. This program currently involves 10 schools representing K-12 grades.

Dream-Makers Sites
Each Imagination Celebration Site school is encouraged to assemble a Building Committee composed of classroom and specials teachers, administrators, parents and other community volunteers. If there is an Art Teacher on staff, it is essential that she/he be part of the team. This Building Committee will coordinate the school's arts focus and programming. Each school will have a Teacher Coordinator and a Parent Coordinator who will organize and oversee the project(s) in the school and to work closely with the Imagination Celebration Schools & Dream-Makers Coordinator. Click here for the Dream-Makers Site Application Form.

Mini-Sites
Every participating elementary school is asked to participate in the Crayola Dream-Makers program for their first year. Many of the most successful programs start with the school being a Dream-Makers Site for the first year, then graduating to become a Mini-Site in conjunction with their Dream-Makers Site status for two additional years. Middle and High Schools are eligible to become a Mini-Site immediately. All Mini-Site schools are eligible to receive $300 from Imagination Celebration. This stipend amount is matched by the schools resulting in $600 to incorporate the arts into the curriculum (i.e. to take students to the theater, symphony or dance programs, or to bring in performers or artists-in- residence.) Click here for the Mini-Site Application Form.

Alumni–Sites

POLICY FOR RETURNING SCHOOLS

• A school that has not completed their original three (3) years of eligibility with the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration (KCIC) may return to complete that commitment, but if there has been a lengthy absence we recommend starting over on the 3-year commitment. This is considered on a case-by-case basis.



• At the completion of the three-year commitment with KCIC, schools may decide on one of two options (1) they may rotate out and withdraw entirely from the KCIC Working Committee, or (2) apply to remain involved for one additional year as an Active Alumni-Site School. Imagination Celebration will review their application and notify the school representative of their status no later than June 3.



• Elementary Schools that have been away from KCIC for five (5) or more years and Middle/High Schools that have been out for three (3) or more years may return by applying to become a "new" KCIC Site School. Elementary schools "return" as a Dream-Makers® Site (with encouragement to include the Mini-Site program for the second and third year of participation) and all Secondary schools "return" automatically as KCIC Mini-Site Schools. Middle Schools are strongly encouraged to be Crayola® Dream-Makers® Sites for all three years.



• Contact Jane Bennett, KCIC Schools & Dream-Makers® Coordinator, via email or by phone at 597-3344 to communicate your intent.

At the end of their 3-year commitment a school may be invited by Imagination Celebration to extend their involvement for one additional year. Schools are then expected to completely rotate out of the program for a period of 5 years for elementary schools, and 3 years for middle or high schools. Click here for the Alumni-Site Application Form.

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