In Walnut Hills, arts education is for the birds — for one specific bird, anyway. Paige Turner is a purple owl who serves as a spokesbird for Learning Through Art, Inc. Learning Through Art's creative approach to literacy education has benefited local students for nearly three decades.

LTA's vision involves building resilient communities through artistic programming. They recognize art as a powerful social-emotional connector and an effective teaching tool, particularly when it comes to fundamental skills like reading.

Books Alive! For Kids: A Unique Approach
LTA's flagship program, Books Alive! For Kids, brings literature to life through an engaging multi-sensory experience. The program incorporates:
• Sight, with books delivered directly to children at home each month
• Sound, with interactive discussions available in the Books Alive! app
• Touch, with hands-on creative activities and crafts
• An owl

Wait, What?
You read that right. Paige Turner, operated by artist Adoria Maxberry, connects with students of all ages, keeping them engaged with the program. Fifth and sixth graders light up when Paige acknowledges them during presentations. Even certain staff members at ArtsWave have been known to pay closer attention when Paige is in the room.

The Importance of Operational Support
Behind the creative programming lies the crucial aspect of operations. Through support from ArtsWave, Learning Through Art maintains its overhead costs and employs talented individuals like Adoria who can help maximize the organization's impact. Kathy Wade, co-founder and CEO of Learning through Art, notes that "programming has to be run by people, and having that talent to generate great content, to generate impact — that's people driven."

Through their work, Learning Through Art demonstrates how artistic expression and education can come together to create meaningful learning experiences for all ages.

This blog post is based on content from "Better Know Cincy's Arts," featuring Learning Through Art, Inc.