Advocacy
Art educators are vital in sharing how valuable learning through the arts is for students. Here are some main talking points when advocating in your community with students, parents, administrators, and legislators who control the flow of funding.
Creativity is now as important in education as literacy” Sir Ken Robinson
Art students get a well-rounded education.
The arts provide a place for students to explore new ideas, take appropriate risks, creatively problem solve, collaborate, develop aesthetic awareness, explore the world and other cultures, and express themselves.
Art students are less likely to drop out of school.
According to national studies, socio-economically disadvantaged students who receive arts education are more than five times less likely to drop out of school. Involvement in arts is also linked to higher academic performance, increased standardized test scores, and more community service.
Art prepares students for the workplace.
Creativity is one of the top three personality traits most important to career success, according to U.S. employers. 72% of employers say creativity is of primary concern when they’re hiring. The arts teaches creativity, problem solving, collaboration and communication, and leadership.
Art prepares students for college.
The U.S. Department of Education recommends that college-bound middle school, junior high, and high school students study the arts. Many universities require one high school arts credit for admission. Students involved in art are twice as likely to earn a Bachelor’s degree.
Easy & Effective Ways to Advocate
Write a letter to your administration.
Download this letter template and edit it to suit the needs of your school: Advocacy Form Letter UAEA.
Display your students’ art in your local community.
Credit Unions, banks, stores, malls, restaurants, hospitals, coffee shops, and local businesses are all great places to check with to see if you could display student art there. These types of displays make student art visible to the community. It is a win-win situation, bringing patrons to businesses as well as students’ parents to see their art. Students can also help with the displays!
Display your students’ art within the school.
Art displays at your school and hosting art shows are great ways to advocate for your arts program and make your teaching visible to the school community. When you host events, invite the local media, LEA Communications Department, school council members, board members, and legislators. Include artist statements and standards, vocabulary, and techniques students learned to educate the viewers.
Stay tuned into local and state arts organizations and advocacy organizations.
Are you aware of what the community/local arts agencies are doing in the city where you teach? The following organizations are great to partner with and are generally required to have outreach or partnerships:
Zoo, Arts, Parks (ZAP) or Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) funds local arts agencies in many Utah cities.
Utah Division of Arts & Museums “Our mission is to connect the people and communities of Utah through arts and museums.”
Utah Cultural Alliance “UCA is the statewide voice for the arts and humanities. UCA lobbies for robust, fiscally responsible funding and constructive policy decisions that build culture’s presence and improve access to lifelong humanities and arts education. We create cultural champions among elected officials. We mobilize and unite the cultural sector into powerful advocates for themselves and our community.”
Utah State Board of Education Fine Arts “Upon completion, all Utah students are prepared to succeed and lead by having the knowledge and skills to learn, engage civically, and lead meaningful lives.”
Art Works for Kids A foundation started by Beverley Taylor Sorenson that advocates for the arts.
Friends of BTSALP Sign up to receive an email about writing to your legislator to advocate for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. This program is funded by the Utah State Legislature, and every year lobbies elected officials to keep the program in the state’s education budget.
Communicate a clear message.
Be visible.
Activate an advocacy network.