Los Angeles County school districts recently received $748,000 in one-year matching arts education grants, county officials announced Tuesday.
The grants were awarded this month to 42 school districts, including three charter networks.
The dollars from the county’s Arts Education Collective are meant to make the arts part of the core curriculum in public schools by increasing the quantity, quality and equity of instruction in dance, media arts, music theater and visual arts.
The grants range from $6,900 to $22,900 and will pay for projects including professional development for teachers, culturally relevant performances for students, hiring full-time staff, developing pathways for careers in the arts and program materials.
“Supporting school districts in their efforts to make quality arts education available to all L.A. County public school students is central to our mission,” said Los Angeles County Arts Commission Director of Arts Education Denise Grande.
“This year, through the generosity of our Funders Council, we are pleased to be expanding the Advancement Grant Program, offering more funding to more districts than ever before.”
The Advancement Grant Program is underwritten by the Los Angeles County Arts Ed Collective Funders Council with dedicated support from The Boeing Company, Herb Alpert Foundation, The Angell Foundation, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, The Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation, Rosenthal Family Foundation and The Dwight Stuart Youth Fund.
Music education projects that are part of the Advancement Grant Program receive dedicated funding from Colburn Foundation and The Music Man Foundation.
Since its inception in 2004, the Funders Council has invested more than $10.8 million in Los Angeles County arts education.
“Expanding arts education is one of the core initiatives of the Arts Commission,” said Los Angeles County Arts Commission Executive Director Kristin Sakoda.
“Making arts and culture more accessible to all L.A. County residents begins long before the museum door or the theatre lobby. In many cases, a classroom is a child’s first gallery, stage, dance hall or music studio. In ensuring quality arts education we make the arts more accessible.”
More information about the Advancement Grant program and a full list of grantees can be found at LACountyArtsEdCollective.org/AdvancementGrant.