On February 20, 2019 The Wallis joined with Los Angeles Magazine to host a public forum about the status of arts education in Los Angeles. The goal of the event – Beyond Scarcity: Achieving a Brighter Future for Arts Education – was to raise awareness of the positive momentum for arts education in our region and underscore some of the persistent disparities that remain. The conventional wisdom that the arts have been removed from public schools is not accurate. More importantly, acceptance of that belief can allow inadequate arts programs to be seen as “normal” or typical. Our goal was to inspire the participants with greater optimism and renewed energy for further advocacy.
The program began with a performance by the Chamber Singers from Hamilton Academy of Music and Performing Arts, a public magnet high school within LAUSD. Wallis Executive Director Rachel Fine welcomed the audience of several hundred people and outlined some of the themes for the event. Marielle Wakim, Deputy Editor at Los Angeles Magazine, then led a conversation with three of the student singers from Hamilton. The students shared why the arts matter to them and how they have benefitted from their participation in the choir.
The next segment highlighted the work of two LA area elementary schools working with Turnaround Arts California (www.turnaroundartsca.org) . Ms. Wakim spoke with three people involved with Turnaround Arts California, part of a national initiative that uses the arts to support change in low performing schools. Principal Dai Shalon Jordan from Joyner Elementary in Watts shared how the arts have helped engage students who were not otherwise participating in school and have also helped excite her faculty about ways to enliven their teaching by integrating the arts. Music teacher Jennifer Lobliner-Cortez from King Elementary in Compton discussed how the arts have unleashed her students’ passions and improved the school climate and culture overall. Twelve-time Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Ledisi, currently starring in the critically acclaimed musical documentary Witness Uganda at The Wallis, has worked with several Turnaround Arts schools as a visiting artist, and talked about her work to inspire students and support teachers.
Denise Grande, Director of Arts Education at the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, presented an overview of the LA County Arts Education Collective (www.lacountyartsedcollective.org) which coordinates countywide efforts to make the arts core in K- 12 public education. Grande shared how her organization is collaborating closely with 70 local school districts, including the Beverly Hills Unified School District to expand access to the arts for all students.
The effective advocacy and policy work of the California Alliance for Arts Education (www.artsed411.org) was cited as furthering the field on a statewide level. Alliance Executive Director Joe Landon discussed several encouraging developments including the creation of specific teaching credentials for dance and theater educators, a new statewide grant program to support arts education, and the adoption of updated content standards for the visual and performing arts. Landon also shared the exciting progress in the Chula Vista School District, a K-8 school district near the Mexican border that has made major new investments in arts education.
At the conclusion of the event, audience members were urged to become personally involved in advocating for arts education in public schools. Sibyl O’Malley invited everyone to sign up for a new public will campaign led by CREATE CA (www.createca.net). Participants were also encouraged to join in an upcoming public planning process for arts education led by the LA County Arts Commission.
Disparities still exist that result in little or no access to the arts for the neediest students. But with the continued involvement of civic and education leaders, elected officials and community advocates that will change. They key is for each of us to get involved and demand equity.