Arts & Education: Ensuring
our Cultural Future
by State Senator Liz Krueger
Last month I
joined City Council Member Eva Moskowitz in hosting an “Arts
in Education Roundtable” at the Guggenheim Museum.
This event emerged out of a series of arts roundtables I
had conducted with different segments of the arts community,
who had indicated an interest in exploring their shared commitment
to arts education, and a recent report issued by Council
Member Moskowitz. The event, which was attended by over twenty
arts organizations, created a passionate dialogue regarding
the state of the arts in New York City schools.
Research shows
that art is an essential part of any quality educational
curriculum. Early introduction to arts is an essential ingredient
in creating a lifelong interest in cultural activities. For
many, arts are also the subjects that help engage students
in school and contribute to their broader academic success.
Unfortunately,
arts education has suffered greatly over the past decade,
falling victim to tight budgets. The Board of Education has
recently announced that it is revamping its arts curriculum
in an effort to ensure a more balanced and complete approach
to this essential part of a quality education
One particular
concern at the roundtable that was raised was the severe
lack of artistic encouragement that New York City schools
provide to their students and the total emphasis being placed
upon the new standardized tests. The children in schools
today are the audiences of tomorrow. How are we going to
keep our cultural institutions alive if our children are
not exposed to the arts? The time has come for arts education
to be fully integrated in school curricula.
The vitality of the arts community is inseparable
from the health of the city—culturally, educationally
and economically. We are presently being forced to cope with
enormous monetary pressures that have already greatly impacted
the mission of arts education organizations. These are times
where we must prioritize and protect the artistic and cultural
integrity of New York City. I am gratified that the Department
of Education has recognized the need to improve arts education
by instituting a formal, standardized arts curriculum. Our
many arts institutions will be an essential resource for schools
as they move toward ensuring that all students in our public
schools receive a comprehensive arts education.
Participants
in the Arts in Education Roundtable included a wide spectrum
of organizations: the American Ballet Theatre, Annabella
Gonzalez Dance Theatre, Arts Connection, Asia Society, Carnegie
Hall, Center for Arts Education, China Institute, City Light
Youth Theatre, Diller-Quaile School of Music, DreamYard Drama
Project, Education Through Music, Guggenheim Museum, Horizon
Concerts, Interschool Orchestras of NYC, Jewish Museum, Michael
Mao Dance Company, Museum of Natural History, Musica de Camera,
New Victory Theatre, New York State Alliance for Arts Education,
TADA!, Turtle Bay Music School, Whitney Museum and Young
Peoples Chorus of New York City.#
