The Arts Access Initiative Launches at 39 Houston ISD Campuses During 2018

2019 School Year The Arts Access Initiative (AAI) is an action plan for ensuring equitable arts access for every K-8 Houston Independent School District student. This coalition -- led by Young Audiences of Houston and including Houston ISD Fine Arts Department leaders as well as stakeholders from many sectors -- works together to advance student arts access through partnerships, data collection, advocacy and strategy.

Since 2013, the Arts Access Initiative has supported over 60 Houston ISD campuses, serving over 60,000+ children, to provide access to arts-in-education programs. In addition, campuses are provided with arts-based professional development, unique community collaborations and funding support. District-wide, long-term research and data collection support stakeholders' understanding in making informed decisions and bringing awareness to the gaps that exist within our city and for our children. This year, as part of their commitment to the AAI, the leadership teams at each of the 39 cohort schools have dedicated time, energy and knowledge to ensure their campuses increase arts access for every child. Young Audiences of Houston will match every school's AAI budget in full to develop professional learning and mentorship opportunities for teachers and to facilitate arts and culture experiences between educators and teaching artists. Each campus' AAI arts plan will align with its educational and creative goals for the year.

This AAI arts plan framework will ensure that every student engages in learning through the arts in a memorable and informative way. We are proud to partner with the leadership of Houston ISD campuses who are dedicated to ensuring the arts remain an integral part of their schools' culture and to providing equitable arts access to every child. #EveryChild. Learn more: www.artsaccessinitiative.org

"Access to the arts will help to provide our students with greater resources and information that promotes creative learning, critical thinking and collaboration, drawing on the power of the arts to inspire and equip all of Houston's children to become life-long learners and the creative, global citizens of tomorrow. As the Mayor of our nation's fourth largest city, I am happy to see a broad investment from the arts community for the children of the Houston Independent School District." - Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

To post a comment, you must register and login.