Americans for the Arts reported that more than 800 celebrations were held in communities across the nation for the 8th annual National Arts in Education Week, September 9-15 – a significant uptick compared with 428 in 2017. The celebrations ranged from block parties to city hall meetings to online visibility campaigns.
Other highlights of National Arts in Education Week include:
- About 65 percent of participants in the week advocated to decision-makers in their communities. Many communities and states—ranging from North Carolina to the City of Philadelphia—passed resolutions designating the week by their elected officials;
- More than 7,500 individuals or organizations contributed 15,500+ social media posts which reached over 25.5 million people and were delivered over 65 million times during National Arts Education Week;
- Many participating organizations leveraged National Arts in Education Week as the time to launch new initiatives or bring attention to their good work. Two states in particular – Ohio and Arizona – launched their statewide arts education data projects. Arts Missoula in Montana hosted a series of events as part of the Spark! Arts Ignite Learning project. Using data to inform advocacy and funding, and direct service programming, these were two different approaches to increasing access to young people who would otherwise not have access.
“I am very pleased to see record numbers in this year’s national celebration of arts education, and I hope this movement continues to gain momentum in coming years,” said Robert L. Lynch, Americans for the Arts president and CEO. “Citizens across America celebrated and shared the transformative power of the arts in education, and made a case for the arts as essential to a well-rounded education. I applaud their commitment in helping us advance this cause.”Passed by Congress in 2010, House Resolution 275designates the week beginning with the second Sunday in September as National Arts in Education Week. The goal of National Arts in Education Week was to bring visibility to the cause of arts education, unify stakeholders with a shared message, and provide tools and resources for local leaders to advance arts education in their communities. In 2019, it will be celebrated September 8 –14. More information on these activities can be found at www.NationalArtsInEducationWeek.org.
Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 55 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.