Arts Advocacy and City Schools- A Year in Review

Arts Every Day’s Schools Program

In keeping with our organization’s core mission to advocate for and ensure increased access for Baltimore City Public Schools’ students to the arts and cultural community, our Schools Program nurtures fruitful partnerships. Through AED’s framework, the Stages Guide, and professional development and guidance teachers grow as academic leaders and learn to implement arts integration as a pedagogical practice. Students are engaged in arts-integrated lessons which produce inspiring, relevant, and vibrant art work which is highlighted each year during our annual Walters Art Museum exhibit.

• 42 Baltimore City Public Schools partnerships (31 continued partnerships; 11 new partnerships)
• Each Partner School developed a Goals Plan which outlines arts integration goals supporting the school’s academic or school culture
• Arts Every Day awarded over $130,000 in funding to support artist residencies, arts and cultural workshops and field experiences. 
• Each school received customized, school-based professional development around arts integration
• When Partner Schools return they will participate in Arts Every Day’s Mid-Year professional development featuring Music Integration by music teacher, James Dorsey, and children’s book author, Kevin O’Malley

2018 Highlights from the Baltimore Arts Education Initiative 

Baltimore City Public Schools in partnership with Arts Every Day launched the Baltimore Arts Education Initiative (BAEI) in Fall 2017 in response to the decline of arts education access districtwide. Thanks to the efforts of over 100 educators, advocates, arts partners, parents, students, district, and city leaders, the BAEI Committee Members created a comprehensive Arts Education Strategic Plan and measurable implementation goals.   
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In Fall 2018, the BAEI moved from planning to implementation. In partnership with the Baltimore City Public School district and local partners, significant progress was made toward to achieving equitable access to arts education in Baltimore City Public Schools. 

• In September 2018, the Baltimore Arts Education Initiative moved from planning to implementation led by the efforts of a volunteer-powered Steering Committee.
• In October, the Baltimore City Council Youth and Education Committee held a public hearing on the Arts Education. Organized by Arts Every Day, the hearing included a presentation of the Arts Education Strategic Plan by Baltimore City Public Schools, student performances, and testimony from parents, students, teachers, and community members. As a result of the hearing, the Baltimore City Council adopted Resolution 18-0116R  containing recommendations for Maryland’s Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (the “Kirwan Commission,”) to make the arts a funded mandate statewide. The Kirwan Commission is charged with recommending policies and funding that would help Maryland deliver the best possible public education to all young people across the state.
• In December, the Baltimore City Public School district released the 2019-20 list of budget priorities including expansion of  arts education. District leaders began revising arts budget guidance in preparation for the School Year 2019-2020 budget planning process.
• Arts Every Day secured corporate support to staff and sustain the Baltimore Arts Education Initiative for the next four years!
• Arts Every Day secured corporate support to launch an Arts Challenge Fund in 2019 to match school spending on arts supplies, equipment, and instruments. More information coming soon!