Ingenuity Incorporated Chicago

Ingenuity's mission is to ensure that every child, in every grade, in every CPS school has access to the arts as part of a well-rounded education.

As the backbone agency serving Chicago's arts sector, Ingenuity provides city-wide leadership, advocacy, strategy and coordination to institutionalize the arts in CPS, transform Chicago's schools for the future, and prepare our children to be tomorrow's leaders and innovators.

Ingenuity's organizational goals include:
(1) Partner with CPS and the arts education sector to drive arts progress for all CPS students;
(2) Support growth in arts infrastructure, staffing and access by collecting, analyzing and disseminating arts education data;
(3) Provide arts educators with the skills, knowledge and resources to support high-quality arts programs; and
(4) Improve the distribution and alignment of arts partners across CPS, with a focus on high-needs students and schools.

DATA: Ingenuity collects data that offer insights, public accountability, and growth metrics on arts education access. We also collect data from arts organizations on their programs in CPS schools. We disseminate these data through our online artlook data-mapping platform, and annual publications.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: Ingenuity provides extensive professional learning opportunities to elevate the skills and knowledge of arts educators in delivering high-quality programs. These opportunities are provided free or at nominal charge to participants.

ADVOCACY: Ingenuity advocates for stronger arts policies and systems by educating public officials and grassroots supporters on the importance of the arts.

DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN ARTS PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS: Ingenuity provides grants directly to CPS schools to expand arts programming. These grants allow teachers to design and implement innovative arts projects that they would otherwise be unable to bring to their students.

Ingenuity is Chicago's first city-wide organization committed to coordinating information and resources between CPS administration, arts organizations, principals, teachers, parents and students toward the common goal of improving and expanding CPS arts education. Ingenuity's efforts to improve Chicago's arts education environment have been critical to reduce inequities for thousands of students who would otherwise go without opportunities to benefit from the arts in their lives.

Ingenuity has a strong track record of community service, program effectiveness, fiscal efficiency, and experienced leadership. We employ 12 full-time staff, two consultants, and are guided by a 17-member Board of Directors of dedicated civic, corporate and philanthropic leaders.

All of our program areas are community driven, and are informed by our collective impact panels, comprising community representatives. These panels help us prioritize and design initiatives that are responsive to the sector's needs.

Over the past ten years, Ingenuity's leadership has helped drive the most progress in arts education in CPS in nearly four decades. Recent data reflect:
- 95% of all CPS schools are providing arts education data to Ingenuity.
- 57% of CPS schools are rated as strong or excelling in the arts; these schools enroll 65% of the CPS student population.
- 69% of schools are meeting the recommended ratio of at least one full-time arts instructor for every 350 students.
- 53% of elementary schools are offering at least two hours of weekly arts instruction, up from 40% three years prior.
- Despite challenging fiscal times, CPS leadership and school principals have significantly increased their investment in the arts by 33% - representing an additional $34 million annually being directed to arts education.
- Today, a connected community of more than 500 external arts organizations - including large cultural institutions, community-based organizations and independent teaching artists - are realizing increased efficiencies and effectiveness through Ingenuity's tools and resources.