The California Arts Council announced its plans to award $22,500 to the California Alliance for Arts Education as part of its Statewide and Regional Networks program.

The Statewide and Regional Networks program is rooted in the California Arts Council’s commitment to supporting arts service organizations reflective of California’s diverse populations.

The program provides general operating grants for arts service organization networks with regional or statewide reach.

Arts service organizations serve as networks to provide specialized, practical services for artists, arts organizations, and cultural communities.

The California Alliance for Arts Education is the only statewide organization that brings together all primary constituencies for arts education including arts organizations, K-12 teachers, professional teacher associations, state and local education departments, professional development providers, parents, PTAs, and interested community members in higher education and business.

The alliance works to advance a statewide arts agenda through both policy and advocacy work at the state level, as well as through targeted efforts in local communities across California.

“This California Arts Council grant allows us to grow programs such as our Arts Now Campaign, where we host a series of events that spotlight districts and counties that are successfully returning robust arts programs to their schools,” said Joe Landon, executive director of the California Alliance for Arts Education. “We reach out to school and community leaders in surrounding districts, counties, and regions to bring them to an event. At the event, we educate attendees about advocacy practices and afterward engage them in the work through our suite of tools and programs.”

The California Alliance for Arts Education is one of 43 grantees chosen for the Statewide and Regional Networks program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council.

“Our Statewide and Regional Network grantees have their finger on the pulse of their communities,” said Nashormeh Lindo, chair of the California Arts Council. “The California Alliance for Arts Education is part of a passionate group of arts service organizations whose tireless efforts keep the creative heart of California healthy and thriving.”

A complete listing of all Statewide and Regional Network grantees can be viewed at http://arts.ca.gov/programs/files/FY1718_ProjectDescriptions_SRN.pdf.