Amy Rasmussen - Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education

Mission Matters

Amy Rasmussen is the Executive Director of Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE), a nonprofit arts and education organization dedicated to enhancing student learning through the arts by partnering with over 40 Chicago public schools. Under her leadership, CAPE has made significant strides in arts integration, collaborating with professional teaching artists and educators to create innovative curriculum projects that combine arts with academics, benefiting thousands of students. Amy's passion for arts education stems from her experiences in intensive music programs, which inspired her to advocate for high-quality arts access in schools. She holds a music degree from DePaul University and a graduate degree in arts entertainment and media management from Columbia College.

In this episode…

The arts possess a unique ability to inspire, educate, and foster connections that extend beyond traditional classroom boundaries. Integrating creativity into the structured curriculum can profoundly enhance students' learning experiences, igniting their passion and enthusiasm for knowledge. So, how can we empower students through arts to lead a richer and more holistic educational journey?

Amy Rasmussen, an experienced nonprofit leader, uncovers the remarkable effects of integrating the arts into the academic curriculum. She traces her journey from a musician to a champion of arts education, illustrating how a background in both art and management can equip one to influence positive change in the education system. Amy highlights their unique approach of collaborating with professional artists and teachers to co-create curriculums that harness the arts to spark student engagement and understanding. The challenge, she notes, is prioritizing arts education amidst an environment often dominated by stringent academic frameworks.

In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith interviews Amy Rasmussen, Executive Director of Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE), about the importance of arts in educational enhancement. Amy shares her musical beginnings and how they fueled her journey in nonprofit management and arts education, CAPE's mission to intertwine the arts with academic goals in the classroom, and the challenges and realities of sustaining arts programs in structured school systems.