In 2024/25, Kalamazoo RESA–Education for the Arts (EFA) celebrates 30 years of creating and sustaining innovative arts education programming and partnerships in Kalamazoo County with nine public K-12 school districts, special ed programs and alternative ed schools, higher education and community arts organizations. In October 2024, the Arts Schools Network awarded EFA the 2024 Arts Innovation Award.

EFA’s innovative structure of community and educational partnerships, fueled by a unique fiscal model of public, philanthropic and endowment funding, enables flexibility and a mind-set of experimentation.

EFA’s arts programming is equitably accessible for all 25,000 K-8, special ed program and alternative students in Kalamazoo County. Additionally, approximately 700 Kalamazoo County high school students annually attend EFA classes in every artform.

Nationally, KRESA-EFA staff have served in board and committee leadership roles with the Lincoln Center Institute of Aesthetic Education, the Association of Aesthetic Ed Institutes and Americans for the Arts – State Arts Education Public Policy Program. Michigan leadership has included the Council of Michigan Foundations, Creative Many Michigan and Michigan Youth Arts Association. Locally, staff have helped lead the Kalamazoo Cultural Center and Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.

KRESA-EFA has received a statewide arts organization Guvvy Award from ArtServe Michigan and three EFA instructors have won Michigan Arts Teacher of the Year awards.

For more information, visit www.kresa.org/page/265