Programs

CAP offers instruction in dance, music, theatre and visual arts for students across educational settings in Northeast Florida, as well as arts integration, art counseling, music therapy and sensory arts.

A CAP student paints at a table

Arts Ignite: Afterschool & enrichment programs

Arts Ignite, CAP’s signature program with a more than 30-year history, provides ongoing, comprehensive arts education in dance, music, theatre and the visual arts. Programs are hosted at partner schools and community sites, and more intensive programs are available through our Emerging Artist Program.

A CAP student paints at a table

CAPabilities: Programs for all abilities

CAP’s therapeutic programs, called CAPabilities, employ the arts to help build skills and support healthy development. Programs include art counseling, music therapy and sensory art for children and young adults with disabilities or specialized needs.

A child reads a script as part of an arts integration program focused on theatre & literacy

Art Smarts: In-school arts integration

CAP’s Art Smarts programs integrate the arts with learning, offering a unique approach to increasing students’ understanding of academic standards. In partnership with in-school educators, an art form is used as a tool for learning one or more academic subjects.Β 

Arts Ignite

Afterschool & Enrichment Programs

Arts Ignite programs offer high-quality, standards-based programs in dance, music, theatre and the visual arts. Most students in these programs also have the opportunity to perform or have their work displayed at CAP’s Performing Arts Showcase and Visual Arts Showcases, celebrating all they’ve achieved throughout the year.Β 

These programs are most often held after school, but can be offered during the day at select partner and school sites. Most programs occur twice weekly for maximum benefit to students.

Emerging Artist Programs

CAP Emerging Artist Programs give students in grades 3-12 the opportunity to hone their technical abilities and expand their creative skills in a focused discipline alongside a community of dedicated young artists. These specialized ensembles provide more individualized instruction for students who wish to further their arts education. Open to both new and returning CAP students, these programs offer intensive instruction in dance, strings, theatre and the visual arts. Through performance and exhibition opportunities, portfolio development and audition preparation, students build confidence and skills for future studies and careers in the arts.

CAPabilities

Programs for All Abilities

Many students have unique learning needs. Specialized, tailored support is key in helping them meet their full potential. Young people of all abilities who have the opportunity to learn through the arts develop skills necessary for confidence, socialization, emotional regulation and improved academics.Β 

CAP offers three programs to assist students with essential academic, emotional, social and therapeutic needs.

Art Smarts

In-School Arts Integration

In an arts-integrated curriculum, an art formβ€”whether dance, music, theatre or the visual artsβ€”is used as a tool for learning one or more academic subjects. Students engage in a creative process that connects the two subjects and meets evolving objectives in both.

This approach provides students with new ways to learn and retain lessons, and classroom teachers with techniques that can be recreated and used in the future. CAP teaching artists co-plan and teach these programs with in-school educators during the school day.

Sample pairings are: Dance & MathΒ  |Β  Theatre & English Language ArtsΒ  |Β  Visual Arts & Science

Program Reach

During 2024-2025, CAP offered in-person arts programs and experiences to children and young adults across Northeast Florida, including at public schools, community centers and partner sites. Through its afterschool and daytime arts education and integration programs, CAP reached 4,328 students through 265 programs at 61 sites. CAP employed 15 part-time teaching artists, 12 full-time teaching artist fellows and 22 assistants. More than 22 performance, field trip and exhibition opportunities were provided to CAP students throughout the year.

Program Partners

Amelia Art Studio
Cornerstone Classical Academy
Duval County Public Schools
Global Leadership Academy
GRASP Academy
Growing Together Behavioral Center
Hope Haven
Jacksonville Classical Academy
John E. Goode Pre-Trial Detention Facility
Keys Educational Resource Center

My Tutor Connections
North Florida School for Special Education
Phoenix Arts & Innovation District
PossAbilities Plus
Radiant Collective
River City Science Academy
Royal Amelia Dance Academy
Sanctuary on 8th Street
Tiger Academy
Youth Crisis Center

Become a Partner Site

Interested in bringing CAP’s nationally recognized arts education program to your school, organization or neighborhood? Contact Vice President of Programs Luisa Reis at luisa@capkids.org.

CAP is hiring a part-time Board-Certified Music Therapist! Are you passionate about using music's transformative power to help children and young adults thrive? As a member of CAP’s Music Therapy team, you'll have the unique opportunity to create meaningful change in young lives through the therapeutic application of music. This is more than a jobβ€”it's a chance to be part of something bigger. Join us in shaping the future of arts education and therapeutic services and apply today at our link in bio! 🎢

The position has an anticipated start date of  August 1, 2026. ✨
Summer break is winding down and the new school year is just around the corner. Be the first to hear about all of the exciting things happening at CAP by signing up for our newsletter at our link in bio and you’ll start receiving important updates including CAP registration deadlines, student performance schedules, events and more! πŸ’œ

#CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp #Artsed
@DuvalSchools
Learning a musical instrument, mastering a complex dance step or painting technique, engaging in literary memorization builds the discipline and cognitive resilience that translates directly into successful leadership and innovation. Along the way, the arts develop unique strengths like self-confidence, creative thinking, self-respect and perseverance. Participation in the arts creates extraordinary change in the lives of children that sets them up to succeed in school and in life. Learn more at our link in bio. 🌟
There is truly nothing like the feeling of opening handmade cards from CAP students. Reading how much these classes mean to them is the ultimate reminder of why we do what we do.

"What I like about CAP is the dances we do and the friends I made but I wanted to say thank you for the donations and the opportunity to perform this dance downtown." - Daniel, Parkwood Heights Elementary School.

Because of your support, CAP students have an opportunity to learn, create and grow. You don't just help fund a class, you fuel a community of rising leaders. We are endlessly grateful for your belief in CAP's mission. #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp
Keep your students growing and engaged this summer in the CAP Studio Artists immersive visual art program! Don't miss out, sign up today at our link in bio.πŸŽ¨πŸ–ŒοΈ

Session 2: July 20 – 24, 2026

This one-week summer camp runs from 9 a.m. –  4 p.m., for rising 3rd through 5th graders. This session titled "Art Around the World," includes a themed approach to developing the foundations of drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media. Classes will be held at 4001 Hendricks Avenue, 32207.
Did you know that learning how to play music can be a literacy superpower? When children study music they become better readers and build skills like deep listening, cooperation, and team work. Learn more about the many academic and social benefits of arts education at capkids.org.✨
Visual Arts Summer Camp alert! Secure a spot for your young artist in the CAP Studio Artists (CAPSA) immersive visual art program providing students with the opportunity to pursue their passion and expand their creative skills. πŸŽ¨πŸ–ŒοΈ

Session 1: June 22 – 26, 2026
Session 2: July 20 – 24, 2026

These one-week summer camps run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., for rising 3rd through 5th graders. 
Each session includes a themed approach to developing the foundations of drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media. Register today at our CAP Summer Camps β˜€οΈ link in bio!
CAP is hiring a full-time Special Assistant to the President & CEO! This is a rare opportunity to work closely with the CEO of a dynamic and successful nonprofit and to become a trusted partner in shaping how the organization runs. 

Learn more about the role and how to apply by clicking the Work at CAP 🌟 link in bio.

This is a wonderful role for someone who wants to be trusted with meaningful work in service of children, creativity and a brighter future for Northeast Florida. We look forward to hearing from you! πŸ’œ
Research shows clear links between arts involvement and positive outcomes in academics, creative and critical thinking, personal behavior, and social and civic participation. Rhythm-based musical training, in particular, has been shown to enhance higher-order cognition and motor control. These benefits reinforce the essential value of the arts to enrich not only individual children and young adults, but also their communities. For more information about CAP programs visit our link in bio.πŸͺ˜
Thank you to all who attended the CAP Visual Arts Showcase Opening Receptions today! You can still view the inspiring artwork created by CAP students through June 10 at the Alexander Brest Gallery at Jacksonville University! Don’t miss it!πŸŽ¨πŸŽ‰ 
#capkidsjax
CAP is hiring a Part Time Teaching Artist in Strings! As a CAP Teaching Artist specializing in strings, you'll inspire young lives by providing instruction in violin, viola, cello and/or bass in afterschool settings across Northeast Florida. You'll create and utilize engaging, standards-aligned curriculum and lead enriching educational experiences that ignite students' creative spirits and foster a lifelong appreciation for music. Start Date: August 2026. 
For more information visit the Work at CAP link in bio. Apply today!🎻

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