Arts for Learning Virginia

Happy 90th Birthday, Janet Kriner! 🎶🎂

Anna and I were honored to celebrate this special milestone with Janet, members of AFM Local 125, friends, and family.

Janet's lifelong dedication to music and the arts has enriched countless lives throughout Hampton Roads. Through her many years with Young Audiences of Virginia, she helped bring the joy and power of the arts to generations of young people, leaving a lasting impact on our community.

Like a beautiful piece of music, Janet's legacy continues to inspire, uplift, and bring people together. Congratulations on receiving the Arts Supporter of the Year Award and wishing you a wonderful 90th birthday filled with the love, laughter, and music you have shared with so many over the years.

Happy 90th Birthday, Janet! 🎼💙💛

Rainbow Puppet Productions brought imagination, laughter, and learning to Chesapeake Public Library! 🌈🎭

We are so grateful for our amazing library partners who help make arts experiences like this possible for children and families throughout our community. Thank you for welcoming our artists and creating spaces where creativity can thrive.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission, Arts Alliance, TowneBank, PRA Group, and Walmart Store #3644. Thank you for investing in the arts and helping us bring meaningful cultural experiences to Chesapeake families!

Books and beats made the perfect combination at Lafayette Library! 📚🥁

A big thank you to Arts for Learning Virginia performing artist Ron Collins for an exciting Tampa Taiko performance to help launch the summer reading program, alongside Lawrence Sawyer and Lilly Treadwill. What a wonderful way to celebrate learning and community!

A little rain could not stop the fun!

Thank you to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge for hosting Rainbow Puppet Productions performance of Animal Parade during their fee-free day! We love seeing families come together to enjoy the arts, nature, and plenty of smiles despite the weather!

This performance was supported in part by awards from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, Helen G Gifford Foundation, TowneBank Foundation, PRA Group, and Arts Alliance.

We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with Norfolk Public Schools and to see Dr. Jeff Rose’s vision taking shape. His emphasis on listening, strengthening relationships, and aligning support systems resonates deeply—these are the foundations of lasting student success.

We look forward to continued collaboration as we support the bright future ahead for NPS.

Bridging the gap through partnership, collaboration, and community.

At Norfolk Public Schools’ Coffee & Conversation event, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Rose joined community leaders, educators, and partners to discuss a shared vision centered on belonging, collaboration, and student success.

From arts and STEM opportunities to stronger family and community engagement, NPS is committed to creating meaningful pathways for every student to thrive.

👉 Read more: https://tinyurl.com/yf3kun5j

Join us in celebrating a major milestone! As the school year comes to a close across Virginia’s cities, counties, and colleges, we are proud to recognize one of our very own.

Congratulations to our Finance and Programs Assistant, Sydney Rivers, who graduated from Old Dominion University on Saturday, May 16, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance Major), a minor in Risk Management & Insurance, and Honors!

Minette Cooper’s legacy is deeply woven into the story and foundation of Arts for Learning Virginia. To honor her, we’re awarding 1 person the Heart of the Arts Award in late October.

Minette’s family’s connection to Young Audiences began with her father-in-law, Dudley Cooper, a key figure in establishing the Virginia affiliate. Minette went on to serve in many roles over the decades – including volunteer program director, three-time board president, and later as a national board member with Young Audiences, Inc. in New York.

Throughout her leadership, she guided with both clarity and heart – challenging us to think more deeply, plan more intentionally, and serve more children through meaningful, high-quality arts experiences. Her influence continues to shape how we grow and the values we carry forward.

As we honor her legacy, we continue her work by keeping her lessons and example at the center of all we do. Nominations for the Heart of the Arts Award are open until June 26!

On Tuesday, we were proud to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of United Way of Hampton Roads’ Project Inclusion and recognize a very special accomplishment by our Board Member, Heather Smith! 🎉

Congratulations to Heather on graduating as part of the Project Inclusion Class of 2026. Her passion for service, leadership, and community impact continues to inspire us, and we are so grateful for the dedication she brings to our organization and the Hampton Roads community.

Heather, we are incredibly proud of you and excited to see all the amazing things ahead as you continue making a difference throughout our region. 💙💛

Congratulations as well to the entire Project Inclusion Class of 2026 on this remarkable achievement!