History of AGTS

Art Goes to School of Delaware Valley originated in 1962 as a project of the Community Arts Committee of the Junior League of Philadelphia. The intent was to “create a supplementary art appreciation program for elementary school children in the Philadelphia area. ” Several Junior League women brought this program to 3447 students in 11 schools. In 1964-65, the first non-League volunteers participated.

By 1976, we grew to 27 chapters, both in Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey and we were officially incorporated by the State of Pennsylvania. By 1984, we continued to expand to 50 chapters and 654 members, with a celebratory 25th anniversary luncheon and lecture. In 1993, we achieved official non-profit status and our website went online in 1999. In the years that followed, we continued to expand our reach into schools in Northeast Philadelphia, incorporated sculpture from the “Art Within Touch” project, instituted a grants program, updated our By-Laws, developed a Members Handbook for our volunteers, and received a grant from the Deb Carrier-Harry Gaines Remainder Trust which enabled us to work with the Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia and add prints of local murals to our portfolios.

In 1994, we partnered with the Michener Museum to bring selections from their collection to the districts/students we serve. We have also received support and funding from the PA Council on the Arts since 2013.

In 2012, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with a gala luncheon at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, attended by over 300 members, and launched our AGTS-DV Facebook page to take advantage of social media messaging.

In the years that followed our 50th anniversary, we have continued to grow as an organization with the addition of Al Hirschfeld prints from the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, enrichment lectures both in-person and virtually from art experts and artists, and Online Virtual Learning resources and videos for our members and school districts. We serve over 165,000 children in nearly 300 public, parochial, and private schools. In addition, our members bring art appreciation to senior citizen centers, nursing homes, special education students, reading clubs, and home-schooling associations. Art Goes to School members volunteer as docents at every area museum, and have been active in developing creative partnerships with these institutions. We have been the recipients of several grants from the Women’s League for Art, Target, and the Five County Arts Program. We are proud to be a vital, active part of the arts community of Southern Delaware Valley and New Jersey.