Arts on the Horizon creates sensory-rich performances and education programs for infants and young children to encourage creative expression and skill building. Giant Food has supported this nonprofit organization through its Community Bag Program.
Tell us about Arts on the Horizon.
We are a theater company specifically created for infants and children up to 6 years old and their families. Our productions and early arts education programs are specifically designed for an audience of that age. All the shows are nonverbal since children at this age are at different stages of language development. The productions focus on sensory elements because we know that is how children learn best. One of the critical elements of our work is that everything on our stage is accessible to children.
To do this, we incorporate a lot of tactile experiences. We create a sensory-rich environment, utilizing vibrant imagery, music, sound effects, movement, and tactile moments where children are able to interact with the different objects and props used in the performance. Everything we do is run by professional actors and musicians.
Instead of having folks come to us, we have been focusing on bringing our programs to different neighborhoods in the DC metro area and meeting families where they are. We work within the school system for our arts education programs. During the summer, we also run camps and workshops throughout the community.
What services do you provide to the community?
For our arts education programs, we run after-school programming for children in kindergarten through second grade. We currently have these programs in various Northern Virginia and DC schools. These programs are focused on showing children how creative expression is a tool they can latch on to. We design all of our programs to follow the Virginia Standards of Learning and infuse social-emotional learning (SEL) into everything we do.
For our creative drama classes, we use books as a jumping-off point, and we provide interactive story times throughout the year in different areas of the community. We also do nine weeks of creative drama summer camps. Summer camps like these are often the first time children are away from parents or caregivers. These programs aim to show these kids how we can learn together by focusing on ensemble building and exploring creative outlets. Each arts education program includes creative drama exercises which focus on refining and developing fine and gross motor skills, expanding vocabulary and problem-solving skills, and serving as a catalyst for creative play outside of class.
Each arts education program includes creative drama exercises which focus on refining and developing fine and gross motor skills, expanding vocabulary and problem-solving skills, and serving as a catalyst for creative play outside of class.
We create shows for infants and children up to 3 years old. These programs are more experiential. They focus less on a specific plot and more on episodic moments. For example, if we set the show in the rainforest, we will explore all of the animals and insects there through sensory development.
Additionally, we also produce shows for children ages 2 to 6. For this older age range, the shows are more plot-driven. These productions demonstrate and model the importance of cooperation and creativity, empathy among the characters, conflict resolution through teamwork, and the excitement of exploring new places and engaging in new activities.
What sets Arts on the Horizon apart from other nonprofits in your community?
We are focused on early arts education, whereas most theater companies cater to an older age range. Arts on the Horizon was the first theatre company in the U.S. to focus on producing original plays for this age group, reaching children at a critical time in their development. We are the only organization in Northern Virginia doing this kind of work.
Arts on the Horizon was the first theatre company in the U.S. to focus on producing original plays for this age group, reaching children at a critical time in their development.
Tell us a story that illustrates the good work of your organization.
There is a family who has been attending Arts on the Horizon programs since their child was 3 months old. Her mother sent us a photo from the first show they attended at a local library. Now, her daughter is 6 years old, and she’s been with us practically her whole life. It was lovely to hear her mom say that Arts on the Horizon has been a big part of her child’s life and it has impacted her overall development.
This particular child was also with us throughout the pandemic. We did our best to continue to offer our programs and to keep children and families engaged during this difficult time. We don’t often think about the pandemic from a toddler or preschooler’s perspective, but it’s so important for young children to interact with other children as part of their social development.
As people began to come back to in-person events, we had several parents who had babies during the pandemic say this was the first time their child was able to interact with other children. Engagement is so important for children of this age, and these parents and caregivers were very grateful their child was finally able to have that experience. It was beautiful to see these families finally have these moments.
What is your most outstanding achievement or contribution to the community?
For us, it’s all about reaching children where they are. Whether it’s a community-based program, one of our school programs, or an outdoor theatre performance in the DC area, I believe what’s important is that we offer creative outlets for children that advance their development. To be such an influential part of so many families’ lives is amazing.
What do you want people to know about Arts on the Horizon?
People are often surprised to hear that we offer programs for children under the age of 3. Many people assume arts education starts with preschool, but several of our programs are designed for infants and toddlers. Additionally, people always seem shocked to see their young child sit through a 30-minute show and be fully engaged. This really demonstrates the importance of arts education, especially in the early years of a child’s life. This type of programming helps with many key developmental milestones and overall growth and development.
How will you use the funds you’ve received from the Giant Food Community Bag Program?
These funds will go specifically to our arts education programs. These donations help ensure we can provide our programs completely free of charge or at a very low cost to families in the area.
Additionally, all our shows are world premieres, meaning they are entirely original productions. Over the 11 seasons we have been offering performances, we have developed 26 world premiere shows. This money helps us continue to create new shows and compensate the professional artists who work on our productions.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
We focus on hiring local artists to develop all of our shows. For the most part, the majority of our artists are from the DC metro area. We serve not only the local families that we work with, but also the local artistic community. We want to uplift artists in the area as much as possible.
We serve not only the local families that we work with, but also the local artistic community.
We also have an emerging artists program, which gives early-career artists experience working on shows. These artists can explore fields like set design, costume design, playwrighting, acting, and directing. They work one-on-one with our professional artists to assist with a particular production element. With this initial experience, they can go on to use the skills they learned to further their careers.
Interview with Michelle Kozlak, Founder
Published March 25, 2024.