To support a high-quality fine arts education, the District III -- East Area Fine Arts Initiative expanded students' access to teaching and learning through participation in off-campus and in-school arts-related activities and events. The initiative will serve as a blueprint for gradual expansion of the program to the Milby feeder pattern in 2017-2018, and to the Austin feeder pattern in subsequent years. The initiative supported fine arts teachers through professional development and networking opportunities, while building camaraderie with partners across the community. The program builds on best practices in fine arts to support student engagement and academic success, with the intent of keeping students in neighborhood schools by offering more arts programs in the east region. The first year of the initiative captured baseline needs assessment data from a sample of 19 fine arts teachers, who mostly indicated their need for more professional development, support, collaboration, and funding for fine arts at their schools. Efforts to address identified needs resulted in school-based residency programs through the Houston Symphony as well as visits to the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet. The school year culminated with "A Feast of Art," which allowed students to demonstrate their skills and talents learned over the year.