Barger Promotes Arts Education Week in L.A. County

Supervisor Barger attends a musical performance by students from Altadena Arts Magnet School (Photo – Bryan Chan)

Supervisor Kathryn Barger introduced a motion this week declaring this week (September 9 through 13) as Arts Education Week in Los Angeles County.

By News Desk

As a result, various County Departments are now prominently featuring arts education resources on their websites, newsletters, and social media platforms.

“I believe it’s important for Los Angeles County to show its commitment to arts and arts education,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We have various partnerships in place that amplify and strengthen community connections to arts education, but there’s always an opportunity to do more. Declaring a formal Arts Education Week in our County serves as a call to action and keeps a spotlight on how arts education invests in the well-being of our youth and communities.”

Supervisor Barger’s motion highlights widespread national recognition of the benefits arts education bestows on youth and students. Kristin Sakoda, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, reaffirmed those benefits. “The arts promote youth development, mental health and wellbeing, creative expression, skill building, cultural inclusion, empathy, and creative workforce development,” said Sakoda. “All youth deserve access to the arts. At the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture, we believe the arts are vital to every aspect of civic life. Our incredible Arts Education Collective helps make that vision a reality.”

Partnerships with school districts are a key factor highlighted in Supervisor Barger’s motion. Los Angeles County’s Arts Ed Collective has 75 participating school districts and five charter school networks countywide. Their website features grants and coaching opportunities for school districts who are working to provide quality arts education to their students.

Supervisor Barger’s motion also includes additional directives that support arts education across Los Angeles County, such as adding more school districts to the L.A. County Arts Ed Collective, spreading more awareness and use of Prop 28–Arts and Music and School in Schools Funding resources, and stepping up efforts to draw down philanthropic funding streams through the Center for Strategic Partnerships.