Studio in a School Announces Retirement of Studio Institute President & CEO Tom Cahill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY, August 27, 2025 — Studio Institute and Studio in a School announce the retirement of Tom Cahill, whose visionary leadership over more than four decades has transformed arts education in New York City and beyond. Mr. Cahill joined Studio in a School in 1979, serving as President and CEO for over 35 years before becoming the founding President and CEO of Studio Institute in 2016. Under his guidance, Studio in a School became the city’s largest visual arts organization placing professional artists directly into public school classrooms. His commitment to equity and access brought high-quality arts education to over one million public school students in New York’s five boroughs, particularly in under-resourced communities.

At the Studio Institute, Mr. Cahill was instrumental in developing extensive internship programs in New York City for teens, high school and college students, helping them gain substantive hands-on experience needed to pursue a career in the arts. He expanded the mission nationally, launching programs in cities including Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Memphis, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington DC, introducing innovative initiatives such as Creative Start for Head Start children as well as expanding the apprenticeship-based internships for high school and college students through a landmark partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. These opportunities, once reserved for the privileged few, are now accessible to dedicated, talented students from all backgrounds. A trained artist, Cahill received his BFA at School of Visual Arts and MA at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cahill worked closely with the New York City Department of Education, leading the development of the city’s Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts and the ArtsCount accountability system, both of which set enduring standards for arts education. He also served on numerous national and local arts education committees, bringing together educators, policymakers, and cultural leaders to champion the role of the arts in learning.

Studio in a School founder, Agnes Gund says “Tom came to us with a genuine love of art and an unshakable belief in the power of creativity. What he brought was not just leadership, but deep respect for both artists and children. Under Tom's guidance, Studio in a School grew from a small, local initiative into a national model of arts education. He has helped build something extraordinary — a legacy that will inspire and empower generations to come.” Studio Institute and Studio in a School honor Mr. Cahill’s extraordinary contribution and celebrate the legacy he leaves—one rooted in creativity, opportunity, and the conviction that the arts are essential to a well-rounded education.

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