Student and Teacher Resources

Middle & High School Student Programs

Parker Arts presents unique skill-building and professional development opportunities for middle school and high school students. These events – like Portfolio Day, Shakespeare Festival and Technical Theater Bootcamp –  are dynamic, educational and enriching.


Portfolio Day

February 15, 2024 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
A professional development opportunity for young artists aspiring to major in or make a career in the arts! Participating high school students will receive constructive feedback on their portfolios from industry professionals as well as the opportunity to receive scholarships and monetary awards. Student artwork will then be displayed in the annual Bright Futures Student Exhibit at the PACE Center Art Gallery.

Portfolio Day


February 15, 2024 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
A professional development opportunity for young artists aspiring to major in or make a career in the arts! Participating high school students will receive constructive feedback on their portfolios from industry professionals as well as the opportunity to receive scholarships and monetary awards. Student artwork will then be displayed in the annual Bright Futures Student Exhibit at the PACE Center Art Gallery.
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Shakespeare Festival

Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival is a theatrical competition for local middle schools and high schools. Students from participating schools will perform a scene or portion of a scene from a Shakespeare play or soliloquy of their choosing and be evaluated by a team of judges. The six highest scoring performances will perform on the PACE Center Main Stage at the Festival closing ceremonies and receive the Bard’s Prize!

Shakespeare Festival


Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival is a theatrical competition for local middle schools and high schools. Students from participating schools will perform a scene or portion of a scene from a Shakespeare play or soliloquy of their choosing and be evaluated by a team of judges. The six highest scoring performances will perform on the PACE Center Main Stage at the Festival closing ceremonies and receive the Bard’s Prize!
Learn More

Student Professional Development

For aspiring students seeking professional development or simply insight to discover their passion and direction for their next steps in life. Select Technical Theater Job Shadow, Technical Theater Mock Interviews, or Informational Interviews with Parker Arts staff to learn more about specific areas of interest.

Student Professional Development


For aspiring students seeking professional development or simply insight to discover their passion and direction for their next steps in life. Select Technical Theater Job Shadow, Technical Theater Mock Interviews, or Informational Interviews with Parker Arts staff to learn more about specific areas of interest.
Learn More

More Resources

Explorable Places

Find field trip and in-school programming from metro-wide education organizations like Parker Arts, the Denver Zoo, Clyfford Still Museum and many others!

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Collaborative SCFD Grant

The Collaborative of the SCFD is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Collaborative SCFD Grant. Open to a team of three-five interdisciplinary teachers from a K-12 public or charter schools. The grant provides from $3,000 to $10,000 worth of programming from participating art, culture and science organizations. Students will receive workshops, field trips, in-school exhibits, assemblies, teacher professional development and more! Deadline Wed April 20.

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Student Musicians

If you have a young pianist or small quartet of students who are looking to get some experience, we would love to meet them! We hire and pay musicians to play at our art gallery openings.

For more information, contact Sydney Mahnken via email or call 303.805.3370.

Parker Mural Projects

Art in Public Places encourages art student teams to propose a mural project for one of Parker’s many underground passes. Supply costs and team stipend provided.

For more information, contact Sydney Mahnken via email or call 303.805.3370.

Education and the Arts


It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.

Albert Einstein

There are more valid facts and details in works of art than there are in history books.

Charlie Chaplin

There is no depth to education without art.

Amira Baraka

To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes his country.

George Washington

The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic…music, dance, painting, and theater are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment.

William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education

The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.

Barack Obama

Contact Us

Have a question or comment for a member of the Education Department? Email us here.