Exploring the Impact
On Monday, June 26, the Getty Center in Los Angeles welcomed a convening of more than 400 school, arts, and nonprofit representatives to State of the Arts: The Power and Potential of Prop 28, a convening of thinkers and experts on how to make the most of the opportunities created by Prop 28, the Arts and Music in Schools ballot initiative that represents the largest investment in arts and music education in US history.
Panelists shared big ideas and calls to action, such as how to ramp up capacity, how to expand upon the work being done in partnerships at schools across the state, and how the state might consider special credentialing with working artists to meet the burgeoning need for arts education.
Some panelists suggested creative solutions such as credit for the school experiences that these teaching artists already have from performing and visual arts residency programs that museums across the state have offered for years.
John Lithgow added star power to the presentation with his preview “sizzle reel” of future PBS program “Art Happens Here” and all program attendees were gifted a copy of the newly published book Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us and left the presentation to ponder next steps in challenging assumptions about the future of arts partnerships with schools and school districts.
The Getty’s generous role in hosting served to remind the group that museums and cultural institutions can help the state to expand arts programming, as 20% of Prop 28 funding is available for opportunities central to museum work, including field trips, art curriculum materials, teacher professional development, partnering to provide teaching artists and instructors, and afterschool and summer arts programs.
CAM’s decade-long relationship with the California Department of Education in presenting the annual Superintendent’s Award for Excellence in Museum Education further demonstrates this strong link, underscoring that all of our California museums are foremost educational institutions that provide relevant and valuable programs that actively and creatively enhance instruction provided by the public sector, as well as serve students of all ages and backgrounds. As more information about Prop 28 emerges, the California Department of Education is leading the implementation and development of guidelines. If you have questions about Prop 28, please contact the CDE at [email protected] or explore their Proposition 28 resources.