Education
At The Englert, we believe in the power of education through an artistic lens to inspire, empower, and transform lives.
Our mission is to provide accessible and innovative opportunities that foster creativity, encourage critical thought, and cultivate talent of all ages. For questions about our education program, contact info@englert.org.
Englert Education is made possible by MidWestOne Bank.
Thank you so much to MidWestOne for sponsoring Englert Education! Their support helps make our engagements, workshops, and other educational experiences more accessible to our community.
Sarah Shonrock Educational Fund
The Sarah Shonrock Educational Fund was created to support our educational efforts within the local community. It is named in honor and memory of Sarah Shonrock, former Operations Director and beloved Englert team member of 17 years.
As an arts advocate, Sarah was deeply passionate about ensuring access to education, particularly for underserved youth. Her love of the arts was a driving force for The Englert during her time at the organization. After many years of contribution as an arts administrator, educator, and mentor, Sarah tragically passed away in 2023, but her inspiring commitment left a lasting impact on the local community.
Sarah believed the arts are for everyone. She wanted The Englert to be a place where everyone felt welcome and acknowledged and that no one felt excluded. Our family is so grateful that this fund will honor Sarah’s ideals and her spirit and that they will continue to be a priority at The Englert.
Sarah’s husband, Derek Shonrock
This fund will help sustain ongoing and upcoming educational experiences for the public, breaking down barriers to access for K-12 students and marginalized populations. Through the fund, The Englert strives to reduce or eliminate the cost of participation in its educational programming. The fund is supported by individual donations, sponsorships, grants, and allocation from The Englert’s annual operating budget.
To support, make a monthly or one-time donation to become a Friend of The Englert or sponsor one of our upcoming Englert Education events.
Nonfiction Writing Fellowship
The Nonfiction Writing Fellowship, now in its sixth year, was created in partnership with the University of Iowa to support the professional development of one student in the Writers’ Workshop each year by providing close access to The Englert’s arts programming and resources.
In 2024, the fellow was integrated as a pillar of the newly designed education program by leading a pair of creative writing workshops that explore the relationship between nonfiction and community empowerment. The first Nonfiction Writing Workshop of the year was held on May 24, 2024 for students from South East Junior High School. The event was kindly sponsored by Blick Art Materials.
Arts Administration Internship
The Arts Administration Internship aims to provide exposure to non-profit arts administration for late high school and early college-age youth interested in the industry.
The 10-week program gives interns practical and theoretical knowledge and skills in a variety of arts administration topics like programming, marketing, development, and event planning through discussion-based learning sessions with the Englert staff. Interns also gain insight into the local arts scene through tours of other venues and various networking opportunities, as well as receiving career mentorship to help advance in the performing arts industry.
The inaugural session for the internship ran in the summer of 2024 with 6 young students and professionals in the cohort. Please check back in the future with updates and information on future sessions!
K-8 Student Experiences
In partnership with the ICCSD Foundation and Any Given Child program, we strive to engage with each K-8 student in the district during their educational career. Each year, we aim to bring students into our building for an artistic experience that sparks their imagination and harnesses their creativity.
On April 30, 2024, we invited over one thousand 1st graders in the ICCSD to The Englert for a special presentation of Story Pirates, the award-winning Kids & Family Podcast that turns stories and ideas submitted by children into comedy and songs. Through programming like this, we are able to spark students’ imaginations, encourage their creativity, and nurture a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
