Arts ARE Education is a new national campaign designed to support the ongoing value of music and the arts for PreK-12 students in the post-pandemic era.
The national campaign rolled out its message and strategies in a virtual town hall on Jan. 19th, via Zoom. The town hall, the first of four scheduled virtual events on behalf of the campaign, included presentations by leaders of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and members of National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, the Arts ARE Education sponsoring organization. The event was presented in coordination with NAMM’s Believe in Music Week. Subsequent town halls will feature arts and education leaders and decision makers in dialogue with administrators, teachers, parents, students, and other school stakeholders.
Arts ARE Education is seeking to mobilize support throughout the country by emphasizing the importance of arts education as a central component to the well-rounded education of all students. Advocates are concerned that budget shortfalls and an emphasis on remedial curriculum addressing learning loss will impact access to arts education, particularly for students deemed at risk. The campaign will urge grassroots advocates to reach out to district school leaders, legislators, and community members to support funding that will maintain and grow music and arts programs in the 2021-22 school year and beyond.
In support of its core message, the campaign is asking school boards to pass the Arts ARE Education Resolution and for individuals to sign the Arts ARE Education Pledge.
Arts ARE Education was inspired by the Arts Education is Essential document that was issued by NCCAS in April and endorsed by 111 national organizations. The statement articulated how arts experiences support the social and emotional well-being of students and nurtures the creation of a welcoming school environment where all students can express themselves in a safe and positive way.
“The arts will help schools and students rebuild and strengthen the sense of community lost during the pandemic,” said campaign spokesperson James Palmarini. “When we say the arts are education, we mean they are as fundamental to student success as any other subject area—right now maybe more so as they re-enter the in-school environment.”
Addressing the campaign’s key message, long-time arts education supporter Samuel Beckett said, “The arts are going to be what makes kids want to go back to school again. Singing, dancing, acting, putting paint on a canvas—those things help our children know who they are and what they want to become—so yes, the arts are education!”
To learn more about the Arts ARE Education campaign and to get involved visit https://artsareeducation.org
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Contact: James Palmarini, 513-276-6781