08/12/2026
We are proud to announce that the art studio of our new Integrated Arts and Science Center will be dedicated to our co-founder Jon Snow in recognition of his more than 30 years of service to the school. In addition to being a co-founder, Snow has also served roles as faculty chair and artist-in-residence.
The IASC will be Hayground’s new home for science and art classes, taught by Hayground’s scientist-in-residence Ryan O’Keefe, and artists-in-residence Sabra Moon Elliot and Perry Burns. “We intentionally set up the art studio so that kids have access to virtually any material, and they can access those materials independently,” Burns said, emphasizing the importance of these kids being actual artists. “They will work as any artist would; choosing materials, making choices on composition, construction, look, feel, aesthetics and all the variables in between.”
At Hayground School, Burns explained, faculty and students alike believe in the impact of the arts on a child’s learning and development, which is what makes the IASC so important.
“As opposed to say, math, where you might be working from variables toward one solution, the arts engage divergent thinking,” Burns said. “Essentially, any action you take with a material introduces a myriad of possible new directions or potential actions. Thus, the child is having to think creatively and make decisions on multiple levels with the outcome directly tied to their own choices and vision.”
