Opening Doors to the World Through the Arts
Through its Global Arts program, Symphony Space is bringing cultural traditions, music, dance, and storytelling to thousands of students across New York City.
Symphony Space brings the arts to life for students across New York City through its Global Arts: Cultural Heritage and Literacy program.
By introducing young people to music, dance, storytelling, and performance traditions from around the world, the program helps students explore creativity, culture, and self-expression.
During the 2024–2025 school year, Symphony Space reached an extraordinary 17,000 students across 90 schools in New York City, delivering more than 800 hours of programming led by 50 professional teaching artists. Through performances, workshops, and classroom experiences, students connected with cultural traditions ranging from Indian classical dance and Native American storytelling to capoeira and Afro-Latin jazz.
Schools could participate in a variety of program formats, including in-school workshops, assemblies, semester-long residencies, and field trips to Symphony Space’s historic Upper West Side stage. Many schools combined multiple experiences, allowing students to deepen their engagement with the arts and gain hands-on exposure to storytelling, music, and global cultural traditions.
Accessibility is central to Symphony Space’s mission. To ensure all students can participate—particularly those in Title I schools—the organization also offered free livestreamed performances, bringing high-quality arts programming directly into classrooms that might not otherwise have access to these experiences.
The impact of this work is evident in the program’s continued growth. Sixty-six of the 90 participating schools were returning partners, reflecting the meaningful and lasting value these arts experiences bring to students and educators alike.
Programs like Global Arts help ensure that young people have meaningful opportunities to explore creativity, experience diverse cultures, and discover new ways to express their own stories.
The Glenn W. Bailey Foundation is pleased to support organizations like Symphony Space that expand access to arts education and creative opportunities for young people.
About the Organization
Symphony Space is a New York City–based arts organization dedicated to presenting innovative programming and expanding access to the arts for audiences of all ages.
