Statement by Janet Brown on the Announcement by President’s Commission on the Arts and Humanities

Today, Janet Brown, the executive director of Grantmakers in the Arts made the following statement regarding the announcement on school turnaround and arts education by the President's Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The Arts Education Funders Coalition, a project of Grantmakers in the Arts, is seeking to expand the role of arts education in federal education policy.

“Today's announcement by the President's Commission will further reinforce what research and practice have already shown, that arts education can increase student achievement, including among disadvantaged children. The Commission's work is encouaging to the arts and school communities by shining a light on the primary and systemic role that arts education can have in helping students achieve and schools succeed. The Arts Education Funders Coalition looks forward to working with the Commission, Congress and the Administration to advance this work and other policy connected to federal education programs, to further strengthen the impact that arts education has in our schools.”

Arts Education Funders Coalition Background:

Grantmakers in the Arts has formed the “Arts Education Funders Coalition” an effort by concerned arts funders to promote equitable access to arts education in all public schools. The status of funders as stakeholders in education rather than beneficiaries of policies makes this effort unique. As a group of funders who have contributed millions of dollars to the public education system or to the nonprofit arts sector to compensate for lack of arts education in public schools, Coalition members and other funders have a stake in developing effective policy that will secure the place of arts education in twenty-first century education. More information about the Coalition can be found here.