In communities, each ArtsSmarts program is locally designed and implemented by a partnership of multi-sector stakeholders.  These partnerships may be formed on a community, regional or provincial basis.

Where ArtsSmarts projects thrive, they are guided by people who are passionate about ArtsSmarts and by the leadership of partners and the many other organizations that contribute their time, expertise and funds to support ArtsSmarts projects in schools.

The relationship between different sectors is one of the keys to ArtsSmarts' success.  When the interests of schools, arts organizations, community partners, school boards, corporate partners and government converge, change can happen in a way that no single organization would have been able to predict or bring about in isolation.

ArtsSmarts lends its expertise to its local partners to develop, grow and maintain their cross-sector collaborations.

Our approach to leadership and partnership is designed to support creativity in schools and develop the skills, capacity and sustainability of the cultural sector. The exchange of ideas and expertise  spreads knowledge and innovative approaches across sectors, hierarchies and disciplines.  Program approaches are flexible in order to remain responsive to the diverse needs and interests of communities, art forms, learning styles, geographic location and cultural expression.  

Currently, each of the partnerships that make up a local learning community is comprised of anywhere from 2 to 15 cross-sector partners.