SPECIAL THANKS to the following government entities, community organizations, foundations, businesses and individuals for supporting Ecos de España’s arts education programs in schools through grants and donations. Funds were used to provide assemblies and workshops at schools that would not have been able to afford them otherwise.

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• U.S. Bank

• Target Corporation

• The City of West Hollywood 

• The City of Santa Fe Springs/Heritage Artwork in Public Places 

• The Arts Council of Long Beach 

• Brett Gallo, owner of Stache Bar in Long Beach www.thestachebar.com

• Stratos Wealth Partners, Harry & Grant Butson www.stratoswealthpartners.com

• The RuMBa Foundation

• Julie McLeod and her worthwhile nonprofit organization, ART WITHOUT LIMITS http://www.awolsb.org. A dancer/actress in the original West Side Story Broadway cast, Julie has devoted her life to being a fierce supporter and nurturer of the arts and artists.

• Lisa Detanna and Jordan Friedman at Raymond James Financial

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THE CASE FOR SUPPORTING ARTS EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS

• State law requires that schools provide music, art, theater and dance at every grade level.  However, as of 2015 eight out of every 10 elementary schools did not meet state standards. As of 2017 only 3.5% of elementary schools offered all arts disciplines, with dance offerings ranking last.

   

• A study issued by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2011 documented a dramatic decline in exposure to the arts since 1982.  Among children of a college graduate, 27% said they had never taken even one arts class, compared with 12% in 1982. For children of high school graduates, the number who’d never had any arts study rose from 30% nearly 30 years ago to 66% in 2008.              

                       

• In 2007 LAUSD’s arts education budget was $78 million.  After the 2008 recession it fell to $18.6 million, a 76% decrease.  Most other school district’s budgets for the arts fared no better.

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• After an outpouring of public support to restore arts in the schools, LAUSD increased its budget for arts education, but it remains approximately 40% lower than in 2007.  Budget woes continue to hamper LAUSD’s (and most school districts’) ability to maintain and increase arts programs.

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• Two important studies/surveys were conducted recently; the 2014 Arts Equity Index and the 2017 Arts Education Profile.  Both revealed deeply entrenched disparities in arts education offerings for students of color, low-income students, and English language learners.  “These students generally have less access to arts education, and the arts instruction that they are provided is of a lower quality,” says Denise Grande, head of the L.A. County Arts Ed Collective.