everykid Program

Made possible by the James W. and Betty Dye Foundation in honor of Joseph Olah.

The Skin You Live In a South Shore Arts everykid program

Arts Education / Outreach

South Shore Arts is dedicated to providing impactful art experiences through outreach. We seek to make our communities more interesting and colorful places!

Through partnerships with schools and service agencies, we reach a vast number of students by taking our instructors and supplies directly to them. Our outreach is aimed at closing creative gaps in artistically underserved populations from urban to rural and everything in between, most of it at little to no cost.


South Shore Arts HAS reached over 30,000 youth IN A SINGLE SCHOOL YEAR with our everykid program!

What is the everykid program? 

The everykid program is the umbrella program for over 20 of our youth outreach programs. These programs are conducted throughout the region on a large and accessible scale, much of it at no cost to participants. We are able to reach a large number of children and youth by taking our instructors and supplies directly to them through partnerships with over 40 organizations, municipalities and school districts.

Among our most popular everykid programs are our book-to-project workshops, in which South Shore Arts instructors visit classrooms to provide a literacy-based art activity, bringing all supplies with them. Selected book titles include The Skin You Live In, Your Name is a Song, and the Magic Trash. Each workshop is unique to the theme of the book. Teachers and students love these workshops!

South Shore Arts also offers scholarship classes for students at our two locations, the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, and Substation No. 9 in Hammond.

The Skin You Live In (1st grade) written by Michael Tyler and illustrated by David Lee Csicsko. We spend time with students, sharing in conversation about our skin, our likenesses and our differences. Students will create a self-portrait out of paper. 

Your Name Is A Song (2nd grade) written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. We talk to students about the importance of their names and create a watercolor print personalized with each students name.

Magic Trash (3rd grade) written by JH Shapiro and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. We bring recycled magic trash that kids use to create their own sculptural project.


Attention schools & organizations!

Let us create a custom program to suit your particular needs or interests! It can be a one-day workshop or an extended program. It can be held at your school or at one of our facilities. The options are endless. Contact our Education Department to discuss


Why art?

Besides being enjoyable, the arts have a number of benefits that you might not expect.  The arts prepare students for academic success, job readiness and essential life skills.

Top 10 Skills Youth (and Adults) Can Learn from the Arts

1. Creativity
2. Confidence
3. Problem-Solving
4. Perseverance
5. Focus
6. Non-Verbal Communication
7. Receiving Constructive Feedback
8. Collaboration
9. Dedication
10. Accountability


 For more information, please contact:

Education Coordinator, Jill Garcia
Jill@southshoreartsonline.org
219-836-1839 x 104

Fill out the survey below to get our everykid program in your classroom.

My students were very excited to make their self-portraits. They have studied people of all cultures and this workshop allowed for more self-awareness and recognizing the beauty of our differences.
— H. Halkies, Salk Elementary School, Merrillville, IN

Selected titles used for everykid book-to-project workshops

The art project and story were interactive, fun and relevant! This was engaging and valuable for the students. This also provided an enrichment that we do not normally have time for.
— S. Foote, Eldon Ready Elementary School, Griffith, IN

We couldn't do it without our Generous Funders!

  • Beaux Arts Ball sponsors & attendees

  • City of Hammond

  • Dyer Construction Company, Inc.

  • Indiana University Northwest

  • James and Theresa Dye

  • James W. and Betty Dye Foundation

  • National Endowment for the Arts

  • Tri Kappa, Beta Rho & Iota chapters

Funding for the everykid program comes from individuals, corporations and foundations throughout our community and beyond. The Beaux Arts Ball and Annual Fund provide additional support. Thanks to the donations we've received, South Shore Arts can continue to provide and expand arts education opportunities to children and youth along the South Shore.

Some of our recent community partnerships include:

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters

  • Boys and Girls Club of NWI

  • Center for Visual and Performing Arts

  • City of Hammond

  • Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago Northwest Indiana

  • Humane Indiana

  • Lake, Porter & LaPorte County Public & Private Schools

  • Northwest Indiana Symphony