Arts education in Georgia includes the study of dance, media arts, music, theatre/film, and visual arts. High school students have the opportunity to achieve a Fine Arts Diploma Seal while completing a Career Pathway in dance, music, theatre/film, and visual art.
Updates
stART Grant
FY23 stART RFAs will become available this summer
The Georgia Department of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction Division, in collaboration with the Title IV, Part A Student Support and Academic Enrichment program office, is pleased to announce the competitive FY23 stART grants. The purpose of the stART grants is to assist rural schools and districts in creating and developing arts initiatives that support quality arts education programs that significantly improve student access to the arts. This RFA is specifically for the creation of new arts programs or the expansion of existing arts programs in rural Georgia. Pending availability of Title IV, Part A federal funds for the 2022-2023 school year from the U.S. Department of Education, stART grants offer one-time funds to help provide arts programs in schools and systems that currently are lacking fine arts as a fundamental aspect of access to a well-rounded education. Successful proposals must demonstrate that the applicant will increase existing arts learning during the school day and sustain arts learning in future years. A maximum of $10,000 stART grants per application will be awarded for the 2022-2023 school year.
Rules and Guidance
Official List of State Funded Fine Arts Courses
Arts course names, state numbers, and course descriptions for all five subject areas are listed below. Teachers should use these course descriptions to guide instruction in addition to the standards for their area.
Fine Arts Standards
Please visit Georgiastandards.org to view and download the Georgia Standards of Excellence in the Arts.
Professional Learning Opportunities
GaDOE Community
We have created Professional Learning Communities for all Fine Arts teachers led by exemplary teachers from across Georgia. In our PLCs, you will find webinars, discussions, and one on one help. Learn how to sign up for this free opportunity at the 
Fine Arts PLC Link.
Professional Development for Arts Teachers
- Differentiation in the Music Classroom
- Behavior Basics: De-Escalation Strategies for the Music Educator
- The Balancing Act: Rebalancing Technology vs. Traditional Music Teaching Methods
- Making Music Magic on a Shoestring Budget
- Assessment in the Music Classroom
- TKES in the Music Classroom
- Ukulele 101 for the K-5 General Music Teacher
- Instructional Planning for the Music Educator
- Exceptional Children in the Music Classroom
- Bravo Behavior!
- It's A Mystery! Making Mysterious Lessons for the Elementary Music Classroom!
- Music for the Early Childhood Educator (Self-Paced course available now in the GA Learns)
Digital Teaching & the Arts (Self-Paced Video Training - Click the words Digital Teaching & the Arts in green to download)
THEATRE & FILM
- Behavior Basics: De-Escalation Strategies for the Fine Arts Educator
- Booking the Gig: An Introduction to Teaching Students Audition Slating, Resumes, What to Wear, Self-Taping
- Critiquing with Kindness (Theatre): Teaching Students to Engage in Meaningful Critiques
- Theatre in a Societal, Cultural, and Historical Context
- Telling our Stories: Strategies for Introducing Students to Playwriting and Writing a Ten-Minute Play
- Strategies for Technical Theatre: Face to Face, Online, or Anywhere
- Intro to Digital Improv
- Reading Shakespeare with your Whole Body
- Text into Action
- Digital Teaching and Learning in Theatre
- Digital Teaching & the Arts (Self-Paced Video Training - Click the words Digital Teaching & the Arts in green to download)
VISUAL & MEDIA ARTS
- Behavior Basics: De-Escalation Strategies for the Fine Arts Educator
- Adaptive Art for Exceptional Children in the Visual Art Classroom - Modifying Materials
- Adaptive Art for Exceptional Children in the Visual Art Classroom - Working with Students with Autism
- Adaptive Art for Exceptional Children in the Visual Art Classroom - Working with Students with Limited Sight
- Adaptive Art for Exceptional Children in the Visual Art Classroom - Tips and Tricks for Adapting Art for Students with Disabilities
- Critiquing with Kindness (Visual Art): Teaching Students to Engage in Meaningful Critiques
- Let's Get Visual Part 1- Inquiry-Based Instructional Activities that SWIRL with Social Studies
- Let's Get Visual Part 2 - Arts Integration with Social Studies Classes
- Journal As Reflective Practice
- Using Social Media for Arts Advocacy 101
- Educating the Whole Child: Utilizing Title Funding to Support the Arts
- Visual Art for the Early Childhood Educator (Self-Paced Course available now in PLO/GA Learns)
- Digital Teaching & the Arts (Self-Paced Video Training - Click the words Digital Teaching & the Arts in green to download)
Instructional Resources for Fine Arts Teachers and Parents
Instructional resources include examples of year-long scope and sequence maps, unit plans, lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, instructional videos, and diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments. These resources are in the GA Teacher Resource Link and may also be found by downloading the PDF links highlighted in green below.
- K- 5 General Music, General Music 6, HS Band I, HS Chorus I, HS Orchestra I, HS Music Technology I
Theatre & Film Instructional Frameworks - Theatre & Film 6-8, HS Acting I, HS Advanced Drama I, HS Acting and Production in Film I, HS Dramatic Writing I, HS Fundamentals of Theatre I, HS Musical Theatre I, HS Tech Theatre I
Visual Art Instructional Frameworks - Visual Art K-8, HS Art History I, HS Ceramics I, HS Drawing and Painting I, HS Graphics I, HS Jewelry I, HS Photography I, HS Printmaking I, HS Sculpture I, HS Visual Art Comprehensive I
- These example fine arts digital lesson plans are for teachers and parents and are easy-to-use and include both “plugged and unplugged” activities for use in a virtual teaching environment.
In response to COVID-19, the Georgia Department of Education partnered with
Georgia Public Broadcasting to launch the
Georgia Home Classroom. Georgia families and teachers can access K-12 resources produced by Georgia teachers that are aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence.
The Essential Toolkit
We also provide many other
free instructional resources aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). These resources were selected by GA DOE content area specialists, to be used by Georgia teachers. Please visit
GeorgiaStandards.Org and the
Essential Toolkit.
Frequently Requested Information
Fine Arts High School Pathways and Diploma Seal
Georgia public high school students may complete a Fine Arts Pathway in Dance, Music, Theatre, or Visual Art by taking a series of 3 full credits in one fine art subject area. There is no end of Pathway tests for the Fine Arts Pathways.
Students who complete a pathway and an additional fourth credit in the arts or creative industry course, complete 20 hours of arts-related community service, participate in arts-related clubs, and complete a capstone project are eligible for the Fine Arts Diploma Seal in school districts that have applied to award the seal.
The district application deadline is rolling until February 15th. Each month submitted applications will be reviewed for approval. Districts who had their applications accepted previously do not need to resubmit.
Districts are responsible for submitting qualifying seniors to the Fine Arts Program Manager by April 15th annually.
*** Note*** The Community service hours are waived for the 2021-22 school year due to COVID 19 restrictions.
Arts Integration School of Excellence Award
The Georgia Department of Education recognizes schools with the Creative School, Arts Integration School of Excellence Award.
The winners are schools where all students have access to arts integration in every subject, and there is both rigor and relevance in the arts integration programming. Arts integration professional development is ongoing, the program is well-organized, and the school involves the community in the arts.
Application materials are due to Jessica Booth on April 15th annually.
Download the Creative School Award package at the link below:
Grants
FACE Grant
Fine Arts Consumable and Equipment Grant
Georgia Fine Arts teachers will be eligible to apply to receive a Fine Arts Consumables and Equipment (FACE) Grant to increase arts education quality during the school day. The 2022 FACE grant application window is closed.
stART Grant
Rural Georgia schools are eligible to apply to receive the stART grant to increase arts education classes during the school day. The grant application process is from September to October annually. The 2023 school year grant application window will be open summer of 2022. Please keep checking for release dates.
Gadoe.org/IVA Competitive Grants
Fine Arts Opportunities for Students
State and National Arts Education Organizations
