This study examines the impact of ArtsSmarts over a three year
period at Caslan School, a small K-9 school 200 kilometres
northeast of Edmonton attended by 130 students from the Buffalo
Lake Métis Settlement. With a history of poor achievement,
attendance, behaviour, parental involvement and high staff
turn-over, the school applied to ArtsSmarts for support. In
all, 70 collaborative projects were undertaken, involving all
grades and many curricular areas, with the highest number being
related to science or social studies. The school became a
showplace of Métis art and culture, students had hands-on exposure
to multiple art forms, and their displays and performances
generated new pride and engagement on the part of students and
parents. With respect to Caslan's five objectives for the
introduction of ArtsSmarts, the findings were mixed.