Fillmore Arts Center is dedicated to providing opportunities for young people to acquire knowledge and self-confidence through study and participation in the arts. Fillmore works with parents, community leaders, local and national arts organizations to promote excellence in arts education. Our unique program helps students become responsible adults capable of making positive contributions to a culturally and ethnically diverse society.
Fillmore Arts Center, a nationally-recognized innovator in arts education, was established in 1974 as the arts resource for five District of Columbia public schools. The Fillmore program is a rich mix of dance, drama, visual arts, music,creative writing, and computer arts. It is designed to enhance cognitive skills, build respect for self and others, and encourage fresh ways of looking at the world.
Fillmore believes that a strong education in the arts helps children grow up to become resilient 25- year olds who can contribute to a diverse and changing society. Participation in the arts is an excellent way to tap the various kinds of intelligences that different children demonstrate, opening up to them additional avenues for achieving competence.
Fillmore's students come from ethnic and racial backgrounds representing more than 85 distinct cultures.
Fillmore's child-centered, skill-based curriculum is founded upon principles of performance-based education and the National Standards for Arts Education. Professional artists from the Washington, D.C. area committed to educational excellence are Fillmore’s teachers, and the city’s museums, theatres, galleries, and performance spaces are its resources. Fillmore's artist/teachers require strict attendance and encourage vigorous participation, which fosters in their students a sense of pride inaccomplishment.
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Fillmore at a Glance
Fillmore Arts Center is an award-winning District of Columbia Public School program providing training in dance, music, theater, visual arts, creative writing and media arts. Fillmore provides an in-depth arts education program to 2,390 students annually from Garrison, Hearst, Hyde, Key, Mamie D. Lee, Raymond, Ross, Stoddert, Truesdell, West and Mamie D. Lee. at two sites, Fillmore East and Fillmore West. In addition, Fillmore staff provide the arts education for the Oyster/Adams Middle School students and the Walker Jones early childhood program. Fillmore also serves the greater metropolitan area through its after-school classes and summer camp at the Fillmore West site.
Fillmore’s curriculum is child-centered and sequentially structured in accordance with the goals of the National and District of Columbia Standards for Arts Education. The core of Fillmore’s philosophy is a belief that all children should receive a skill-based, quality arts education. In addition, Fillmore teachers work with each other and classroom teachers to plan lessons and integrate the arts and academic disciplines.
Each student spends a half day at Fillmore taking two hour-long classes. Every child in the early childhood grades through grade 2 has the same curriculum, rotating through visual arts, music, dance and drama over the course of the year. All second graders have hands-on exposure to the violin. Students in grades 3-6 choose classes from a wide variety of art areas. Classes (except for instrumental music) change each semester. Class offerings include: Shakespeare, drama, tap, jazz, and African dance, wind, brass, and string ensemble, guitar, choral singing, animation, digital arts, ceramics,drawing and painting, creative writing, playwriting, musical theater, and interrelated arts.
Celebrating student achievement is a major focus of Fillmore’s program. The Fillmore Arts Show and various contests provide opportunities for all visual art students to display their work. Student work also hangs at Fillmore and at the participating schools. Open houses, Concerts, and Festival Evenings showcase music, dance and drama students. Participation in these performances is an important part of the learning process and is expected.
The International Network of Performing & Visual Arts Schools recognized Fillmore as a school of excellence for the year 2000. They also featured Fillmore as their K-8 model in their publication, 112 Models for Education in the Arts.
Fillmore was a 1997 recipient of The Mayor's Art Award. Fillmore was chosen as the first District of Columbia public school to receive a Composer in Residence grant from the Lincoln Center Program in 1991.
Fillmore with Mann School was identified as a Commended School of the Arts by the U.S. Department of Education in 1984.
In 1982 Fillmore was honored by the Rockfeller Brothers Fund as one of the 10 best arts education schools in the country.
Fillmore's success depends on a highly qualified staff of artist teachers and a strong administrator. They bring an extraordinary level of expertise, experience and commitment to their teaching while providing role models for their students. Broad-based community support, parental involvement, and a supportive school system have helped Fillmore to become an award- winning arts center.
Fillmore has a very active parents and community group, Friends of Fillmore, which raises funds to support the after- school and summer camp programs, and to enrich the school day program. New board members are always welcome.
back to topHow the Program Works
Each school spends a day at Fillmore, with younger students spending one-halfday and older students spending one-half day. Every child in grades K, 1, and 2 has the same curriculum. The school year is divided into trimesters. All Fillmore students are exposed to visual arts for the entire year; and to dance,drama, and music each for a trimester. The early childhood classes invite parents for Open House visits once per trimester.
Students in grades 3-6 choose classes from a wide variety of art areas. Classes(except for instrumental music) change each semester. At the end of the semester, Festival Evenings are held where students share their work and performances with family and friends. Attendance at these evenings is an important part of the learning process and is expected.
In addition, students in grades 3-6 have an opportunity to participate in after-school ensembles in strings, band, and chorus. Faithful attendance at practices and two concerts per year is a must. These ensembles often go on field trips to perform and hear other groups.
Students have physical education and singing instruction at their home schools. Fillmore teachers work with home school teachers to plan lessons and relate the arts to classroom activities.
Fillmore also sponsors after-school classes and a summer camp program. Students can take a wide variety of visual arts, gymnastics, and performing arts classes at reasonable fees. Children from ages 6-14 can participate (5-year-olds are welcome in certain after-school classes.)
back to topAwards and Achievements
Fillmore’s excellent programs and outstanding artist/teachers have won the school widespread community interest and an unusually high degree of parental involvement, making Fillmore an award-winning arts center and a national model for arts education.
Among Fillmore's Honors
- Chosen by the International Network of Performing and Visual Arts Schools as its K-8 model in 1993 and again in 2000.
- Received the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Art Award.
- Chosen by the Lincoln Center as the first D.C. public school to win a Composer in Residence grant.
- Studied as a model program by the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' Education Institute
- Selected as a commended school of the arts by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts
- Adopted by the National Endowment for the Arts under the Federal Partnerships in Education Program.
- Named one of the ten best arts education schools in the country by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
Karen Daniels with Wynton Marsalis and friends
Christine Kharazian conducts chorus at UDC spring concert
Denna Purdie conducts strings at UDC spring concert
Michael Bowie Jazz Trio at the Starland benefit
Hyde kindergarten dance class performance
