News

This report summarizes the work of our network of school districts, nonprofit partners, County service providers, and arts advocates from the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Arts and Culture partnered with the Department of Youth Development, Probation Department, and the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles to bring the arts to the Barry J. Nidorf Secure Youth Treatment Facility, where justice-involved youth learned to play in a drumline. The Drum Corps Program is the result of a 2023 motion by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Lindsey P. Horvath which directed the music program be developed and implemented at Nidorf.

In 2023-24, teaching artists provided Creative Wellbeing for youth and adults through in-person and virtual direct services, professional development sessions, and arts-based workshops. Youth and adults receiving direct services and participating at some special events were surveyed about their experiences. These end-of-year reports summarize the data from those surveys and elaborate on learnings about Creative Wellbeing affecting their mental health and protective factors including social-emotional competencies and social support.

Stitch was created by a coalition of nonprofits all working in the expanded learning, out-of-school time space. Together, we’ve created an indispensable resource that fills a much-needed gap for visibility and accessibility to K-12 learning opportunities across Greater Los Angeles. Our mission is to ensure that all students have access to transformational enrichment opportunities.

In November 2022, California voters overwhelmingly supported increased arts education funding with the passage of Proposition 28: The Arts and Music in Schools (AMS) Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act. The measure required the state to establish a new, ongoing program supporting arts instruction in schools beginning in 2023–24. Here is a round-up of resources that can support planning and implementation of expanded arts education in our schools.  

  The Advancement Grant offers financial support to Los Angeles County school districts working to provide quality arts education to all students. Districts may apply for matching funds of up to $25,000. Los Angeles County school districts that are in partnership with the Arts Ed Collective and will be implementing board approved strategic plans for arts education in 2024-25 are eligible to apply. Application Deadline: March 13, 2024 | 6PM (PDT)

We are excited to announce the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles County Arts Education Collective! The past two decades have brought dramatic changes in public education, arts and culture, youth development, and in the creative industries that drive our region’s economy. But one thing has remained constant: our deep commitment to ensuring young people have access to the arts—all year, every year—as a core part of their growth and development.

With growing understanding of how the arts positively affect young people, building broad awareness about different ways to deliver impactful arts education is crucial. This brings us to our fourth key strategy for advancing arts education: Learning and Leadership…

So far we’ve walked you through two of the six key strategies that guide our collective impact work: School-Based Arts Education and Community-Based Arts Education. This month, we’ll dive into our next strategy for expanding arts education across the region: Creative Career Pathways for Youth, which helps prepare young people ages 14-24 to contribute to LA County’s robust economy. The arts teach us how to communicate, collaborate, problem solve, re-imagine, and innovate—all skills needed for success in the 21st century workforce…

The March newsletter contains updates and opportunities. It was sent out on Thursday, March 31. To make sure that you never miss any arts ed announcements, opportunities, or events, sign up for our Arts Ed Newsletter. View Newsletter