Young Audiences Arts for Learning is proud to be part of a new national campaign in support of arts education for all students, Arts ARE Education.
Led by the national leadership organizations of the National Coalition of Core Arts Standards, Arts ARE Education builds off the momentum of last year’s “Arts Education Is Essential” unified statement, which was signed by 113 national organizations and supported by hundreds more arts and education groups in communities across the country.
This new collaborative campaign, launched in January during NAMM’s Believe in Music Week, was designed to highlight and support the ongoing value of the arts for PreK-12 students as states and schools work through multiple challenges in the post-pandemic era, including budget shortfalls and a focus on remediation.
The message is clear: Arts ARE Education, and the arts must remain central to a well-rounded education and fully funded to support the well-being of all students and the entire school community. The campaign urges grassroots advocates to reach out to district school leaders, legislators, and community members to support funding that will maintain arts programs in the 2021-22 school year and beyond.
As Arts ARE Education continues to mobilize support throughout the country, we are sharing the many ways for you to get involved, advocate, and embrace the Arts ARE Education message.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Encourage your school board to pass the Arts ARE Education Resolution, recognizing the value of arts education and their commitment to maintaining arts education programs.
- Why do this now? By February, a preliminary budget may be available for public review and comment; generally, in March, there is a final presentation of the budget in which feedback will be accepted prior to approval. To prepare for the decision-making meetings that will be taking place, we need school districts to pass the resolution now to protect arts education funding and programming in the 2021–22 school year.
- Where Do I Start? The Arts ARE Education Toolkit provides great templates and resources to help you make the case, mobilize advocates in your community, and understand the school budget process.
- Share Your Resolution. Once your school board has passed the resolution, be sure to submit it here so that we can track progress across the nation and celebrate with you.
MORE WAYS TO GET ACTIVE
- Sign the Arts ARE Education Pledge demonstrating your own commitment to ensuring equitable and sustainable education in the arts, and encourage others in your communities and networks to do the same. Anyone or any organization can sign it.
- Write your legislators and remind them of the importance of fully funding public education to support all students and their right to a well-rounded education. Find your own representatives and get started here.
- Join arts educators and other stakeholders at Arts Education Tuesday Town Halls and be part of the important dialogue around the state of district programs. View the upcoming event schedule and register here.
- Celebrate with other school districts that embrace the Arts ARE Education campaign. Check out the social media toolkit and share the campaign’s key talking points and calls to action on your channels. Be sure to use the hashtag #artsAREeducation when posting!
- Support the Cause by donating to the Arts ARE Education campaign, so we can continue this critical work.
The Arts ARE Education and must remain central to a well-rounded education for all students. Stay tuned to www.artsareeducation.org for the latest updates on this initiative and ways to protect arts education funding and programs in the months and years ahead.
Arts ARE Education is sponsored and led by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS). Founded in 2011, NCCAS is an alliance of leading national arts and arts education organizations, dedicated to the work of creating and supporting national arts standards. NCCAS leadership organizations are:
American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE)
Arts Education Partnership
Educational Theatre Association (EdTA)
National Association for Music Education
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
State Education Agency for Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE)
Media Arts Committee of the NCCAS
Young Audiences Arts for Learning
