FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2015
PRESS CONTACTS
Marta Martinez, (213) 273-8334
mmartinez@arts.lacounty.gov
Leticia Rhi Buckley, (213) 202-5935
lbuckley@arts.lacounty.gov
Largest Percentage of Funding Supports Artist Residencies and Teacher Professional Development
The Los Angeles County Arts Commission announces $560,000 in grants to 31 school districts and one charter school network in LA County through the Advancement Grant Program. Administered by LA County’s arts education initiative, Arts for All, these grants are matched by school district funds and offer resources to advance high quality instruction in dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts.
Arts for All has supported districts in creating and carrying out strategic plans for arts education since 2003. “We are committed to supporting school districts in their efforts to implement comprehensive K-12 arts education,” says Arts for All Director Denise Grande. “These grants help districts address their most pressing needs.” Designed to be both flexible and responsive to the shifting education landscape, the Advancement Grant Program is central to Arts for All’s mission to help school districts build the necessary infrastructure to provide high quality arts instruction to all of LA County’s public school students.
Ranging from $10,000 to $20,800, 32 grants were given to districts in the Arts for All network to invest in developing long term, sustainable approaches for delivering arts instruction. This year’s funds support artist residencies in 12 school districts, teacher professional development opportunities in 15 districts, and six districts will develop arts integration programs in their schools. A complete list of grantees can be found below.
The Advancement Grant Program is funded by The Angell Foundation, The Boeing Company, California Community Foundation, The Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation, Colburn Foundation, The Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, Herb Alpert Foundation, Rosenthal Family Foundation, and The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.
Arts for All is the Los Angeles County initiative dedicated to making the arts core in K-12 public education. Established in 2002 by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Arts for All is a partnership between the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Arts for All currently works with 59 of 81 Los Angeles County school districts, plus two charter school networks, to implement policies and plans that support high quality arts education for the 1.6 million public school students in the County. www.lacountyartsforall.org
The Los Angeles County Arts Commission fosters excellence, diversity, vitality, understanding and accessibility of the arts in Los Angeles County. The Arts Commission provides leadership in cultural services for the County, encompassing 88 municipalities, including funding and job opportunities, professional development and general resources. www.lacountyarts.org.
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ARTS FOR ALL
2015-16 ADVANCEMENT GRANT RECIPIENTS
Beverly Hills Unified School District: $18,100 to support professional development in dance and theatre for kindergarten and first grade teachers, conference attendance for Visual and Performing Arts Specialists and increasing the work hours of the VAPA Coordinator.
Burbank Unified School District: $20,300 to support professional development in visual arts for secondary teachers and artist residencies at five elementary sites.
Castaic Union School District: $16,400 to support the expansion of the elementary music program, to grow student attendance at performances and to partner with the Kennedy Center for teacher professional development.
Centinela Valley Union High School District: $19,500 to support expanded opportunities for students to showcase their artwork and to experience the work of professional artists.
Covina-Valley Unified School District: $17,500 to support district-wide artist residencies for third grade and to coordinate a partnership with Azusa Pacific University.
Culver City Unified School District: $19,800 to support district-wide professional development and artist residencies from the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra for kindergarten through third grade.
Duarte Unified School District: $19,800 to support the expansion of the elementary music program through additional teachers and instruments.
East Whittier City School District: $18,400 to support district-wide teacher professional development in visual arts and theatre instruction from The California Arts Project.
El Monte Union High School District: $17,500 to support the repair and purchase of musical instruments district wide.
El Rancho Unified School District: $19,100 to support assessment, communications and curriculum development led by the Visual and Performing Arts Council.
Glendale Unified School District: $15,700 to support the purchase of musical instruments for secondary school sites district wide.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District: $20,800 to support arts integration curriculum and professional development district wide.
Hawthorne School District: $17,900 to support district-wide professional development on arts integration.
ICEF Public Schools: $15,800 to support teacher professional development in visual arts instruction for Lou Dantzler Elementary School from The Armory Center for the Arts.
Keppel Union School District: $16,400 to support district-wide professional development in visual arts integration.
Lancaster School District: $10,000 to support the CREATE Festival, a showcase of student artwork.
Las Virgenes Unified School District: $16,000 to support teacher professional development in music integration and residencies from musician, Andrew Grueschow.
Lawndale Elementary School District: $18,600 to support arts integration and cross-district collaboration strategies guided by the Regional Arts Coordinator.
Little Lake Elementary School District: $11,700 to support theatre residencies for third through eighth grade from the Drama Education Network.
Manhattan Beach Unified School District: $19,500 to support district-wide artist residencies in dance and theatre for kindergarten though fifth grade, and a Visual and Performing Arts Lead position that will oversee the district arts plan.
Monrovia Unified School District: $10,000 to support the expansion of the district-wide music program for kindergarten through third grade.
Montebello Unified School District: $17,500 to support district-wide arts integration curriculum and professional development for second grade.
Mountain View School District: $17,000 to support district-wide artist residencies in puppetry that build English Language Arts skills for second through fourth grade.
Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District: $19,700 to support district-wide teacher professional development in visual arts integration for elementary grades from The California Arts Project.
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: $10,400 to support district-wide visual arts teacher professional development for second grade, and artist residencies for fourth grade from Palos Verdes Art Center.
Paramount Unified School District: $17,000 to support the expansion of the elementary instrumental music program and the revision of the district arts education strategic plan.
Pasadena Unified School District: $20,500 to support curriculum development and artist residencies in elementary grades aligned to the Common Core State Standards.
Pomona Unified School District: $18,400 to support professional development in visual arts instruction from The California Arts Project.
Santa Monica Unified School District: $20,500 to support district-wide artist residencies in dance for fifth grade from Dancing Classrooms.
Saugus Union School District: $20,200 to support professional development in arts integration, artist residencies, school performances and field trips for students.
Whittier City School District: $19,400 to support district-wide music instruction for third through fifth grade by hiring an additional instructor.
Wiseburn School District: $20,600 to support artist residencies in visual arts at Anza Elementary from P.S. Arts, and to expand the instrumental music program to two additional grade levels.