THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE, ADVANCE, AND EXPAND AN APPROACH TO LEARNING CALLED "ARTFUL LEARNING," WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED BY LEONARD BERNSTEIN, THE RENOWNED CONDUCTOR, COMPOSER, AND EDUCATOR. THE ORGANIZATION PURSUES ITS MISSION THROUGH ITS OPERATION OF THE LEONARD BERNSTEIN CENTER AS WELL AS THROUGH THE CREATION OF NEW COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ARTFUL LEARNING IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT THE ARTS CAN BE PLACED AT THE CENTER OF ALL LEARNING TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO THINK CREATIVELY AND TO DEVELOP CRITICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES. THROUGH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, THE ARTFUL LEARNING MODEL WAS DEVELOPED: USING POWERFUL, ART-INFUSED CURRICULUM TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE STUDENTS. THE FOUR MAIN ELEMENTS (EXPERIENCE, INQUIRE, CREATE AND REFLECT) ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT BEST TEACHING PRACTICES AND IMPROVE THE MANNER IN WHICH BOTH STUDENTS LEARN AND TEACHERS TEACH.