Offerings in the arts stimulate expressions of creativity and the cultivation of an aesthetic sense. At Nightingale the arts are an essential means of developing imagination, resourcefulness, self-discipline, and self-esteem. Theater, dance, studio art and music are integral to the curriculum at all levels, and students are encouraged to pursue their passions in these areas.

Whether actresses or stage technicians, all students in the Nightingale drama department learn by doing. The Nightingale auditorium has a 350-seat theater, professional stage, dance floor, dressing rooms, space for set construction and storage, props, and costume shops, allowing students to learn about all aspects of the theater, from performing to working behind the scenes.

Dance begins in Kindergarten and appears throughout the Lower School in both the physical education and music programs. In the Middle and Upper Schools, girls study modern techniques, creative movement, and choreography. Students often choreograph their own works, and a major dance concert is presented annually.

Girls studying studio art are encouraged to wander through the creative process, be open to challenge and change, and find image solutions rather than "right" answers. Students use a wide variety of materials and techniques to learn to understand the language of images and work in both two and three dimensions. The art room is open to students during free time for work on individual projects.

Our music program develops each student’s inherent musical ability through singing, performance, and playing musical instruments. In teaching music, the aim is to balance the academic and technical with the aesthetic and emotional—the discipline with the joy.