Arthur Miller created a foundation in his name to help young artists. In the years after his death, Rebecca Miller thought about how her father's mandate could be interpreted. With children of her own in New York City public schools, she learned about the challenges of public arts education and grew interested in the arts education movement. Rebecca began to wonder if the Arthur Miller Foundation (AMF) could become a part of this effort, adding volume to the wave of thought and data that places the arts not at the bottom of the necessary elements of a school day– forgotten behind science, technology, engineering, math, and the humanities– but squarely in the middle of a rounded education. After joining forces with her Vice Chair, Sandi Farkas, the pair began to explore how AMF could have the greatest impact.

In 2015, AMF decided to solely focus its attention on theater education and began working with the New York City Department of Education to support new certified theater teachers with the tools, resources and support they need to build sustainable in-school theater programs. Inspired by the Arthur Miller Theater Pilot Program and the Arnhold Dance Teacher Support Program, AMF worked closely with Peter Avery, Director of Theater at the New York City Department of Education, to create the Arthur Miller Foundation Fellows Program.

Arthur Miller Theater Education Programs are on the ground and making a real difference in New York City public schools, effectively reaching nearly 40,000 students. Yet, we are mindful that this is only the beginning.  Our aim is to export this program model to other schools in need across the city, state and country, when the time is right. At the Arthur Miller Foundation, we believe that arts education should be a right, not a privilege. Our work has only begun.