Theme & Anchorworks Guide 2026-2027: Anchorworks Spotlight
As we celebrate a milestone year at P.S. ARTS recognizing 35 years of advocacy and access to equitable arts education for all children, we’re proud to highlight the 2026-2027 Theme & Anchorworks Guide that will guide the curriculum we use in P.S. ARTS classrooms across our schools. This year’s theme, “We Are the Stories We Tell,” is rooted in a strongly held belief at P.S. ARTS—that every child’s story matters. In P.S. ARTS classrooms this school year, Teaching Artists across all arts disciplines will use anchorworks as inspiration to help students think and reflect on their own narratives and how they tell their story.
The selected anchorworks introduce artworks and cultural touchpoints that Teaching Artists can draw upon to develop standards-aligned curriculum. P.S. ARTS uses the term “anchorworks” rather than “masterworks” to move away from narrowly defined and exclusive ideas of “great art,” and to reflect our belief that art comes from many cultures, perspectives, and voices. From the fiber and textile arts rooted in indigenous traditions around the world, to contemporary dance styles inspired by global forms of movement, this year’s anchorworks and anchor artists all share the same core truth of storytelling.
Read more about all of this year’s anchorworks and anchor artists below. To learn more you can find the full downloadable version of the Theme & Anchorworks guide here.
VISUAL ARTS
Bisa Butler
Born in New Jersey in 1973, artist Bisa Butler is known for vibrant, life-sized quilted portraits that celebrate Black identity, history, and culture by bringing personal stories and historical narratives to life.
Faith Ringgold
Faith Ringgold (1930–2024) was a pioneering artist, author, and activist best known for her “story quilts,” which combined vibrant imagery and text to explore Black identity, personal narratives, and social justice while challenging the exclusion of Black women artists from the mainstream art world.
Lakota Star Quilts, Gladys Thunder Hawk-Gay (Oglala Lakota)
Gladys Thunder Hawk-Gay is a Lakota artist and activist who has been making star quilts (wičháȟpi owíŋža) for more than 80 years. Rooted in Lakota traditions, the star quilt symbolizes hope, guidance, and the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds and is often given to honor significant life events or individuals.
Gee’s Bend, Alabama
In Gee’s Bend, Alabama, generations of Black women transformed quilting from an act of necessity into a powerful form of artistic expression and storytelling, creating bold, abstract designs rooted in histories of enslavement, resilience, and community.
The Poakalani Quilt Group
Founded in the 1970s and formally established in 1988 by Althea and John Serrao in Honolulu, the Poakalani Quilt Group is dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional Hawaiian quilting practices.
Lalo Alcaraz
Lalo Alcaraz is an award-winning Chicano cartoonist and illustrator whose work uses humor, satire, and visual storytelling to explore immigration, identity, race, and politics. He is best known for creating the bilingual comic strip La Cucaracha, which addresses social issues affecting Latine communities.
Marjane Satrapi
Born in 1969, French-Iranian artist, writer, and filmmaker Marjane Satrapi is best known for her autobiographical graphic novel Persepolis, which explores childhood, cultural identity, and displacement during and after the Iranian Revolution. Through her distinctive visual style, Satrapi transforms personal experiences into powerful stories that challenge stereotypes and connect with audiences across cultures.
Dav Pilkey
Dav Pilkey is an author and illustrator best known for the Captain Underpants and Dog Man series, which use humor and visual storytelling to engage young readers. Drawing on his own experiences, Pilkey celebrates creativity, individuality, and the power of storytelling.
Corita Kent
Corita Kent (1918–1986) was an American artist, educator, and former Catholic nun whose vibrant screen prints drew on advertising, scripture, literature, and music to explore themes of peace, love, and social justice. Her work became especially influential during the 1960s and ’70s and is held in major collections across the country.
Allan Houser
Sculptor Allan Houser (1914–1994), born Allan Capron Haozous, was a groundbreaking Indigenous artist whose expressive bronze and stone sculptures celebrate the cultural and historical stories of Indigenous peoples.
THEATER
“The Wayfaring Stranger” by Rhiannon Giddens
Born in North Carolina in 1977, composer and musician Rhiannon Giddens blends folk, gospel, Celtic, blues, and classical influences to explore the interconnected roots of American music while Dell’Arte Theatre Company & “theatre of place” Founded in 1971 in Blue Lake, California, Dell’Arte International combines physical theater, mask work, clowning, mime, movement, and storytelling with its “theater of place,” creating performances rooted in the physical, social, and cultural contexts of local communities. challenging narrow genre boundaries and traditional narratives.
Dell’Arte Theatre Company & “theatre of place”
Founded in 1971 in Blue Lake, California, Dell’Arte International combines physical theater, mask work, clowning, mime, movement, and storytelling with its “theater of place,” creating performances rooted in the physical, social, and cultural contexts of local communities.
MUSIC
“Finding the Music / En pos de la musica” by Jennifer Torres
“Finding the Music,” Jennifer Torres’ first picture book, invites students to explore family and cultural traditions while celebrating stories of resilience, creativity, and courage rooted in her Mexican-American heritage.
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz (1925–2003), known as the “Queen of Salsa,” brought Afro-Cuban rhythms and powerful stories of love, identity, and exile to audiences around the world while maintaining a deep connection to her Cuban heritage.
DANCE
Camille A. Brown
Tony-nominated dancer, choreographer, director, and educator Camille A. Brown is celebrated for weaving personal, cultural, and historical narratives rooted in Black identity into innovative choreography that blends African, modern, hip-hop, and jazz traditions.
CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater
Los Angeles–based dance theater company CONTRA-TIEMPO, founded in 2005 by Cuban American choreographer Ana Maria Alvarez, uses movement as a form of social resistance and explores themes of immigration, identity, and cultural expression.
As we move into this new school year, we also celebrate 35 years of arts education that uplifts, inspires, and transforms. Together, with imagination and creativity, we look forward to shaping the next 35 years of possibility! The Theme and Anchorworks Guide reflects and inspires the work of P.S. ARTS both internally and externally, supporting an inclusive approach to arts education that inspires and connects! Read it here.
Please note: All content in the Theme and Anchorworks Guide is intended for educational and non-commercial use only. Reproduction or distribution without explicit permission is prohibited.
