Fine Arts
At Grand Rapids Public Schools, our Fine Arts Department is comprised of over 70 passionate, skilled, and certified educators who proudly serve every GRPS school. Our mission is to engage, inspire, and empower all scholars through exceptional arts instruction.
Our Focus
We are committed to providing diverse, high-quality Fine Arts opportunities that cultivate creativity, discipline, and self-expression. Our program emphasizes both visual and performing arts, offering scholars foundational and advanced skill development, along with dynamic platforms to showcase their talents across the district.
Inspiring Excellence Through the Arts
At GRPS, we believe that the arts are not extras—they are essential. Our Fine Arts program opens doors, builds confidence, and enriches the lives of our scholars. We are proud to nurture the next generation of artists, musicians, and creative thinkers who will lead with imagination and purpose.
Visual Arts
Through Visual Arts, scholars gain a strong foundation in artistic concepts and design principles. Our curriculum nurtures both technical skill and creative expression, while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Students explore the rich history of visual art and are encouraged to develop their own unique voice through hands-on, imaginative projects.
Curricular Offerings:
Visual Arts education begins in kindergarten and continues through 8th grade across all GRPS schools. In high school, scholars can further develop their skills through specialized courses such as:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Ceramics
- 3D Art
- Digital Art
- Advanced Placement (AP) Art
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Art (varies by school)
Opportunities to Shine:
Student artwork is proudly displayed throughout the district and featured in our prestigious Annual Citywide Art Show, celebrating their creativity and growth. The Citywide Art Show is the largest student art exhibit in the State of Michigan.
Performing Arts
Music education at GRPS engages scholars from kindergarten through 12th grade in the exploration of rhythm, melody, harmony, musical form, and history. Our music curriculum fosters a love of music while reinforcing essential academic and cognitive skills. It supports well-rounded development and provides opportunities for personal expression and collaboration.
Performance Opportunities:
Scholars showcase their musical growth in a variety of performances throughout the year, building confidence and community through shared artistic experiences. Secondary students participate in regional and State level MSBOA and MSVMA events, as well as seasonal performances hosted in GRPS facilities, and opportunities to participate in community events like parades, conferences, and arts festivals. GRPS has five fully theatrically equipped auditoriums which can host from 380 to over 1200 guests.
Comprehensive music instruction is offered from kindergarten through 8th grade. High school students can pursue more advanced study through a wide range of courses, including:
- Choir
- Band
- Orchestra
- Music Production
- Theater Arts
- Dance
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Music (varies by school)
Contact Us
Fine Arts & Shared Time
Call 616-819-2156
Shared Time Program
The Shared Time Program is developed by the State of Michigan to allow public school districts to provide non-core elective instruction to eligible private schools at no cost in areas including Art and Music. We want to give all students in the Grand Rapids area the opportunity to engage in a quality Fine Arts curriculum.
