About MetroArts.org
Discover our mission, history, and the passionate team behind our arts education initiative
Our Mission
MetroArts.org is dedicated to transforming K-12 education through the integration of arts into core curriculum subjects. We believe that arts education is not a luxury but an essential component of a well-rounded education that helps students develop critical thinking, creativity, and self-expression.
Our mission is to provide educators with resources, training, and support to effectively integrate visual arts, music, drama, dance, and other creative disciplines into their teaching practices. By doing so, we aim to enhance student engagement, improve academic outcomes, and nurture the next generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers.
We are committed to making arts education accessible to all students, regardless of socioeconomic background or geographic location, because we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to explore and develop their creative potential.
Our Story
MetroArts.org was founded in 1995 by Dr. Eleanor Rivers, a passionate arts educator and former public school teacher who witnessed firsthand the transformative power of arts integration in her classroom. After 15 years of teaching in urban schools, Dr. Rivers recognized a critical gap in resources and professional development opportunities for teachers who wanted to incorporate arts into their curriculum.
What began as a small collection of lesson plans and teaching strategies shared among colleagues has grown into a comprehensive online platform serving thousands of educators across the country. From our humble beginnings as a simple website in 1996, MetroArts.org has evolved into a dynamic hub for arts education resources, professional development, and community building.
Over the years, we have collaborated with renowned artists, educators, and researchers to develop evidence-based approaches to arts integration. Our work has been recognized by national education organizations, and our resources have been implemented in schools throughout the United States and beyond.
Today, we continue to expand our offerings and reach, guided by our founding vision of a world where arts education is valued as an essential component of every child's learning experience.
Our Founder
Dr. Eleanor Rivers
Founder & Executive Director
Dr. Eleanor Rivers brings over 25 years of experience in education to her role as the founder of MetroArts.org. With a Ph.D. in Education from Columbia University and an MFA in Visual Arts, Dr. Rivers has dedicated her career to researching and advocating for arts integration in K-12 education.
Her passion for arts education was ignited during her early years as an elementary school teacher in Chicago, where she observed remarkable improvements in student engagement and academic performance when she incorporated visual arts, music, and drama into her lessons. This experience led her to pursue graduate studies focused on the intersection of arts and education.
"I founded MetroArts.org because I believe that every child deserves access to a rich, creative education that nurtures both analytical and artistic thinking," says Dr. Rivers. "The arts are not just supplementary activities—they are powerful tools for learning across all subject areas."
Under Dr. Rivers' leadership, MetroArts.org has grown from a grassroots initiative to a nationally recognized resource for arts integration. She continues to guide the organization's strategic direction while actively contributing to research and content development.
Our Team
Michael Chen
Director of Curriculum Development
Former music teacher with 12 years of classroom experience, Michael leads our curriculum development team.
Sophia Rodriguez
Professional Development Coordinator
With expertise in teacher training, Sophia designs and facilitates our workshops and webinars.
James Washington
Digital Content Manager
James combines his background in visual arts and web development to curate and present our online resources.
Our Core Values
Creativity
We believe creativity is a fundamental human capacity that should be nurtured in all educational settings.
Accessibility
We are committed to making quality arts education resources available to all educators and students.
Excellence
We strive for excellence in all our resources, programs, and interactions with the education community.
Equity
We work to address disparities in arts education and ensure all students have opportunities to engage with the arts.
Join Our Mission
There are many ways to get involved with MetroArts.org and support our work in promoting arts integration in K-12 education:
- Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates and resources
- Share your successful arts integration experiences with our community
- Participate in our professional development opportunities
- Connect with us on social media