SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
SAM is expanding the role of cultural institutions in K–12 education through advocacy, collaboration, and the development of innovative partnerships and programs.
Collaborative Partner Schools
SAM’s school partnerships are designed to support arts integration in local K-12 classrooms and expand entry points for the school community to grow and learn together. Benefits of being a partner school include free curricula and resources, professional development for a teaching team or the entire staff, field trips to one of our three museum sites, subsidized bussing, and free student admission.
SAM prioritizes partnering with Title 1 schools and availability is based on staff capacity.
Seattle Public Schools
The Creative Advantage
The Creative Advantage is a city-wide partnership led by Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Their goal is to make quality arts education accessible to every student in SPS, with a focus on lower-income communities and communities of color that have been shown to have less access to arts learning opportunities. SAM is proud to partner with this initiative to provide professional development training and resources for schools and community organizations. For more information, visit
Creative Advantage Seattle.
Naramore Art Show
Since 1985, the Naramore Art show has been an annual tradition celebrating the excellence of the middle and high school artists of Seattle Public Schools. Seattle Art Museum is a proud partner in Naramore. Each year we look forward to the installation of art in our Community Gallery, and honoring artists in the award ceremony.
Eyes on Asia
Beginning in 2019, SAM created a program for upper elementary students throughout Seattle Public Schools focused on the recently renovated Seattle Asian Art Museum. In collaboration with SPS teacher advisors across different schools, SAM developed a curriculum focused on K–5 Literacy standards, as well as identity development and student voice. Through this partnership, teachers have received professional development, curriculum for pre- and post-visit lessons, art kits, and more. This program includes museum visits to the Seattle Asian Art Museum as an annual experience for SPS students across the district, with subsidized bussing for all schools.
Highline Public Schools
Highline Partner Schools
Since the 2000s, SAM has partnered with schools throughout Highline to create arts-integrated lessons for teachers across subject areas.
Drawing from Nature
Beginning in 2016, SAM created an annual program for all second graders throughout the Highline School District to receive an in-depth exploratory visual arts program. Created with teacher advisors, this program targets the social, emotional, and developmental stages of students while giving them first-hand experiences with art and ecosystems at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Teachers receive professional development and strategies to incorporate pre- and post-visit lesson plans into their curriculum. This program is free and includes subsided bussing for all schools.