Mayor Kevin Johnson announced in October that Sacramento has been chosen by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to be the inaugural partner city for ‘Any Given Child,’ a program that will create a long-range arts education plan for students in grades K-8.
The program will use resources of two existing school systems, along with those of local arts organizations and the Kennedy Center to create a plan for arts education specific to the Sacramento community. Sacramento Unified and Twin Rivers Unified School Districts will be the first to benefit from the program. "The arts play a critical role in educating youth, which is why I'm excited to join forces with the Kennedy Center. I believe 'Any Given Child' provides Sacramento with a tremendous opportunity to expand student access to the arts and strengthen arts education across our community," Johnson said.
Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser was on hand to discuss ‘Any Given Child’, which seeks to bring access, balance, and equity to each child’s arts education, using an affordable model that combines the resources of the school district, local arts groups, and the Kennedy Center. “Twin Rivers Unified School District (TRUSD) is committed to providing all students with a quality PreK to Adult Visual and Performing Arts education program that meets the needs of the changing climate of the Arts and Entertainment arena while expanding the possibilities of an imaginative and creative graduate for tomorrow’s workplace,” said Assistant Superintendent Ziggy Robeson, a former music teacher.
“This partnership with the Kennedy Center will strengthen and expand our plan to implement a robust program in the development of music, dance, drama, and visual arts education,” said Robeson. “We’re deeply honored and energized for the possibilities this partnership will bring in increasing student achievement.”
With the assistance of expert consultation services provided by Kennedy Center staff and other professionals, community leaders develop a long-range plan for arts education that is tailor-made for the school districts and community.
The program is titled ‘Any Given Child’ because Kaiser and Johnson want to ensure that any one child gets a solid, meaningful arts education from kindergarten through eighth grade. "I am particularly happy to present this program in Sacramento," Kaiser said. "Mayor Johnson's strong commitment to arts education sets a high standard for other cities in California and across the nation."
By partnering with local arts organizations and using existing resources, the program aims to create little administrative overhead, remaining affordable. The first phase of the program, a comprehensive audit of existing arts education resources and needs assessment by Kennedy Center staff and consultants, begins today in Sacramento. A review of the community and the school system will reveal what arts education currently exists and what arts organizations and other community groups offer. Based on this information, a plan is created. The audit process takes approximately six months.
During phase two of the program, local arts organizations may decide to specialize in a particular grade level and subject matter to meet the needs of the school curriculum. For example, a local ballet company may work with a fifth grade class on movement, while the local symphony works with the third grade class on music appreciation. Classroom teachers can take advantage of supplemental lessons with online interactive learning modules and videos developed by the Kennedy Center such as those available on www.artsedge.org. The goal is to provide a tapestry of arts education, weaving together existing arts classes with available outside resources.
As part of the ‘Any Given Child’ initiative, Sacramento will have access to Kennedy Center arts education resources, including professional development opportunities in the arts and arts integration for teachers and artists; resources on the Internet including lesson plans, interactive modules, and videos; and other arts education programs from the Kennedy Center.
Mayor Johnson launched his arts initiative on June 12 to bring the arts community together, find ways the City of Sacramento can support the arts, and develop a strategy that will enable the arts community to withstand these challenging economic times.
Monthly ‘For Art’s Sake’ meetings are held every 4th Wednesday of the month, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. at various locations throughout the Sacramento area.