When a Child's Story Takes Center Stage
For many elementary students, writing an assignment means turning in a piece of paper and moving on to the next lesson.
For students participating in Story Bakers, something extraordinary happens instead.
Their stories become live theater.
Thanks to support from Artspire NoCo, Story Bakers traveled throughout the Poudre School District this spring, helping students discover the power of storytelling, creativity, and self-expression.
The program begins in the classroom with a literacy lesson and a 20-minute film introducing students to the building blocks of great storytelling—characters, setting, and plot. Students then write their own original stories, never knowing which ones will ultimately make it to the stage.
The magic happens when Story Bakers return.
Using costumes, props, music, and plenty of imagination, the performers bring selected student stories to life in front of classmates through word-for-word theatrical performances. Suddenly, young authors see their own ideas celebrated in a way few could ever imagine.
A Spring of Creative Impact
This spring, Story Bakers:
Visited 16 Poudre School District elementary schools
Presented 17 live performances
Inspired 2,095 elementary students through literacy and the performing arts
The program also intentionally reaches schools that often have fewer opportunities to experience professional arts programming, including remote mountain schools and schools serving higher numbers of economically disadvantaged students.
For many students, this may be their first experience seeing professional performers—or seeing their own creativity take center stage.
“I loved that we knew who the author of the story was and we could watch their story be acted out”
More Than a Performance
The lasting impact extends well beyond the final curtain.
Following this year's tour:
100% of surveyed educators said they would eagerly invite Story Bakers back to their school.
75% rated the educational value as "Very High."
25% rated it as "High."
Perhaps the most encouraging outcome wasn't captured by the numbers alone.
Teachers weren't simply grateful for a memorable assembly—they wanted to build on the experience. Many expressed interest in partnering with Story Bakers again, integrating future performances into classroom learning and literacy instruction.
That's exactly the kind of lasting impact Artspire NoCo strives to support.
Investing in Young Minds
At Artspire NoCo, we believe every child deserves opportunities to experience the arts—not just as an audience member, but as a creator.
Programs like Story Bakers inspire confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and remind students that their voices matter.
When a child watches classmates laugh, cheer, and applaud a story they wrote themselves, they're learning something much bigger than writing.
They're learning that their ideas have value.
And that's a story worth telling.
Support Arts Education in Our Community
Every child deserves access to meaningful arts experiences that inspire creativity, confidence, and connection. Your support helps make these opportunities possible for students and children across our community at no cost to them, their families, or their teachers. Want to see the impact firsthand? Stay connected and follow our work throughout the year.
