The Arts 

The Visual and Performing Arts website is here to support schools in sustaining and increasing quality arts learning opportunities for all students.

“This is a unique community—a city that embraces the arts—and we have a moral obligation to prepare our young people to contribute and participate in industries that require creativity and innovation.” — Superintendent José L. Banda

 

Great schools have arts. And, there’s plenty of research to explain why. Study after study has shown that students who have the opportunity to participate in arts education do better academically, are more engaged in learning, are less likely to drop out of school and go on to college.The arts are simply a fundamental part of a great public education.

Vision: By 2020, all students in all Seattle Public Schools will have opportunities to learn through the arts, helping them be successful in school and in life.

In 2008, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and the Seattle Arts Commission established a partnership with Seattle Public Schools to guarantee that all Seattle students benefit from arts education. We are now entering our 6^th partnership year and we have had a number of significant successes. 

In July 2011, Seattle Public Schools accepted a planning grant from the Wallace Foundation on behalf of the partnership. The School District and City led an 18-month planning process resulting in development of a multi-year K-12 Arts Plan, the Creative Advantage.

Creative Advantage Launch

Implementation of the Creative Advantage will launch in the central pathway in 2013-2014. In March 2013, the Central Arts Pathway principals and a team of teachers and family representatives developed a k-12 Central Arts Pathway vision and allocated centrally provided seed staffing.

 

 

Next year, six K-2 general music programs will be developed. Funding provided by the City of Seattle will support the purchase of the instruments, text books and resources needed for the new general music programs.

Next school year, each Central Arts Pathway school will develop an arts plan responsive to the regional goals. Completion of school-based arts plans will trigger additional investments including integrated arts professional development and artist residencies. Program evaluation will be conducted and outcomes reported to the community annually. Please check back for Central Arts Pathway updates and progress!