Arts Cultural Education Program has been funding classroom-based partnerships between schools, professional artists and arts organizations for the past 13 years. The goal of this program has been to support and encourage curriculum based arts education in public schools across 19 school districts comprising approximately 450 schools. Over that time more than 500 projects have benefited thousands of students, their teachers, parents, and school administrators in every district and community of King County.
Arts 4Culture has been joined in this effort by federal, state and local governments, by private foundations, by corporations and by the broader community, all concerned about the lack of access to arts education in the learning environment. In part, because of this continuum of support, artists and arts organizations have now developed well-articulated partnerships with public school institutions, and a strong commitment to reaching school populations through the curriculum. Almost every established arts institution in our region maintains a specialized education outreach program and fosters a dynamic relationship with the public school system. Thanks to a growing commitment at the state level there now exist curriculum and performance standards in the arts for every grade.
Despite these positive advancements, the commitment to integrating arts teaching with other academic areas remains in the balance. Though some schools, teachers and even districts recognize the value and have stepped up their capacity for teaching art, many districts continue to marginalize arts learning as a luxury. It is time to take stock of our evolving role and position in this dynamic issue. How can we go beyond individual schools to reach district leadership? As the community strives to deliver funding and services to any school willing and able to accept it have we simply created the perception that the arts are exclusively a gift from the outside? How effective have we been in creating a lasting capacity in the schools to develop and sustain art curriculum?
The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is currently working to develop assessments and academic requirements in the arts. A statewide task force of teachers, administrators and artist educators is working to identify effective models for arts integration, to develop a statewide communication network and increase professional development opportunities for arts teachers. Arts 4Culture has been actively involved in these efforts and will continue to be engaged.
During 2004 we will reassess our role in arts education, both through the school environment and through the associated community of arts organizations, teaching artists, funding partners, and municipal agencies. We will seek avenues for engaging our partners in a new level of dialogue and action. We will explore new avenues of financial support and for encouraging school districts to invest in long term capacity and a commitment to arts learning at all grade levels. Anyone who wishes to be a part of this dialogue is invited to contact Charlie Rathbun at charlie.rathbun@4culture.org. We welcome your ideas and participation. |
