Art to Heart host Ana Ortiz.

Ana Ortiz

KET presents Art to Heart , a unique educational resource for teachers, parents and child-care providers. The first of its kind, Art to Heart is an eight-part series about the importance of the arts as a form of early self-expression for children from infancy through age eight. The series, which will be distributed nationally, airs Wednesdays, beginning Nov. 1 at 7:30/6:30 p.m. CT on KET2 and Mondays, beginning Nov. 27 at 5/4 a.m. CT on KET1. Supplemental materials--including expanded information, activity ideas, lesson plans and a viewing guide--are available at www.ket.org/arttoheart.

Art to Heart presents music, dance, drama, literature and the visual arts as essential components of early childhood education. Hosted by actress Ana Ortiz ( Ugly Betty ), the series provides parents and educators with the inspiration to make play and creativity a part of each day's activities. Producer and director Guy Mendes says, "We wanted to make the case that the arts are an indispensable part of the learning process for young children, and we were fortunate to meet inspired kids and passionate grown-ups who provided us with a multitude of examples of how the arts benefit the whole child and offer more ways for children to succeed."

To achieve these goals, Art to Heart visits model art-education programs in early childhood centers, arts centers, schools, museums and homes. The nationally recognized institutions featured include the Speed Art Museum's Art Sparks Gallery, a leader among art museums in interactive experiences for children; the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center; and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Among those appearing in the series are Harvard educator Howard Gardner and country singer Dolly Parton, founder of the Imagination Library.

Introducing the arts to children is also great fun, and Art to Heart highlights the exciting and entertaining aspects of bringing art and kids together. For instance, third graders in Louisville, inspired by a painting of Lewis and Clark, take on roles of explorers and Native Americans. And at the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis, parents and children have fun together with a class in music and movement, while the "ballet babies" explore the stories of dance.

Kentucky educators can order the series on DVD by calling 800-945-9167. Those calling from outside of Kentucky should dial 800-354-9067.

Art to Heart is a KET production, funded in part by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The program is produced by Guy Mendes. Nancy Carpenter is executive producer. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.

Museums and nationally recognized programs featured :

Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Gateway Child Development Center in Anderson, Ind.

Key Learning Community in Indianapolis

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Reggio Collaborative in St. Louis, Mo.

Settlement Music School of Philadelphia

Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center

Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Ky.

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

Kentucky schools and programs featured :

"Bilingual Boogie Bees" at the Village Branch of the Lexington Public Library

Byck Elementary School in Louisville

The Child Development Center in Lexington

Daviess County schools in Owensboro

Grayson-Breckinridge Head Start program in Leitchfield

Kentucky Center "ArtsReach" program in Louisville

Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Elementary School in Lexington

Speed Art Museum's Art Sparks Gallery

St. Agnes Elementary School in Louisville

West Louisville Talent and Education Center

Featuring interviews with :

Dolly Parton, founder of Imagination Library

Elliot Eisner, Stanford University professor of education

Howard Gardner, Harvard Graduate School professor of education

Liz Armistead, Director of Early Childhood Programs at the Settlement Music School

Miriam Flaherty, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

Museum educators Marla Shoemaker of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Sharon Shaffer of the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center

Neuroscientist and author Lise Eliot

Vea Vecchi, spokesperson for Reggio Children from Reggio Emilia, Italy