One of the most powerful instruction strategies within the AAI is the integration of the ART WORKS ARTIST NETWORK into our curriculum. Artists from our community teach workshops and contribute to the daily curriculum.
The Art Works Network provides:

• exposure for AAI students to exemplary works of art
• a context within which students can study those works within their cultural and social context
• workshops that enable students to acquire the skills needed to practice specific art forms
• performance opportunities within the community
• assessment according to state and national arts education standards
• pre-professional arts experiences
• a faculty and community of art professionals in all the arts strands who prepare students for post-secondary education or career paths.

Each artist/art organization begins by presenting an artwork before the class. Discussion happens regarding cultural context, influences, artists’ process, techniques, etc. with the class. Often short lessons, during the school day, are lead by the artist utilizing the same techniques that were used in the displayed artwork. After school workshops are offered giving the students a chance to work more closely, over an extended period of time, with the artist to develop their own artworks. Every workshop culminates in an exhibit/performance within the community. Often these performance opportunities are associated with our Arts Alive and Arts Arcata events. In this way community members act as hosts. Art Works artists often act as mentors to individual students throughout the year outside of the workshop experience. This relationship is especially important for AAI seniors developing their senior projects. All workshops are designed to provide students with exposure to the world of the working artist.

Our partnerships are the heart of the program and the greatest source of creative catalyst for the students.

We maintain active partnerships with:
• “http://www.humboldt.edu” HSU Art Education, Dance & Art Department
• “http://www.inkpeople.org” The Ink People Center for the Art
• “http://www.humboldt.edu/~first/” HSU’s First Street Gallery
• “http://www.dellarte.com” Dell Arte

This year we worked with the Humboldt Cultural Coalition and Humboldt Area Foundation to encourage our Artist experts to write grants in order to support their work with us.