JBFC and Southern Westchester BOCES Announce New Partnership to Expand Access to Arts in Education

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) and the Center for Professional Learning & Curriculum Support (PLCS) at Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services (SWBOCES) are excited to announce a new partnership aimed at expanding access to JBFC’s acclaimed school programs throughout regional school districts. This collaboration highlights both organizations’ shared dedication to embedding visual arts in education as a powerful way to strengthen literacy, foster empathy, and ignite student engagement.

Through classroom workshops and hands-on media labs, SWBOCES Arts in Education will now offer schools enhanced access to JBFC’s dynamic film and education programs, providing students with unique opportunities to both experience and create films as a meaningful part of their learning.

Catherine Graybosch, Supervisor, School Library System (SLS) said, “Through the PLCS Arts in Education Co-Ser, districts will now have access to JBFC’s innovative film programs, giving students the opportunity to use the power of film to find their voice, develop creative skills, and see the world through a new lens. This is a thrilling new chapter for both our organizations, and we can’t wait to see the stories these students will tell.”

Brandon Shenkman, JBFC Director of Education, added, “Our paths first crossed with SWBOCES this past summer when PLCS brought more than 40 teachers to the Burns during the PLCS Institute for Opportunities in Education program. Now, through the Arts in Education program, educators have a clear pathway and the financial support they need to bring their students to the Burns for immersive experiences in our state-of-the-art Theater and Media Arts Lab—spaces designed to inspire creativity, curiosity, and deeper learning.”

JBFC School Programs available through SWBOCES Arts in Education are Classroom to Screening Room (grades 3–12), pairing curriculum-connected films with guided discussions; What’s the Story? (grade 3), a three-part program on analyzing short films and creating storyboards; and Lab Field Trips: Show, Don’t Tell (grades 5–12), a hands-on workshop in visual storytelling.

Mary Jo Ziesel, JBFC Executive Director, noted, “For nearly 25 years, the Burns has been a cultural home for students across Westchester and beyond. This partnership with SWBOCES builds on that legacy by reducing financial and logistical barriers, ensuring schools of all sizes can benefit from these transformative programs.”

“Our partnership with the Jacob Burns Film Center provides students and teachers with meaningful access to the art of filmmaking and the power of visual storytelling to better understand and shape the world around them,” said Dr. Mary Elizabeth Wilson, Senior Director, The Center for Professional Learning & Curriculum Support (PLCS).

For more information about bringing JBFC programs to your school through SWBOCES Arts in Education, visit https://plcs.swboces.org/arts_in_education or burnsfilmcenter.org/education/schools-community-orgs

About the Center for Professional Learning & Curriculum Support (PLCS) @SWBOCES: PLCS supports educators—the most critical influence on student learning—with professional learning and resources to build capacity and foster high-quality teaching environments that benefit all students.
Contact: Mindy Gibson, 914.345.8500 ext. 352, mgibson@swboces.org