2024 has been a year of significant growth for P.S. ARTS! As we bid farewell to the year, we would like to take a moment to look back and celebrate the milestones and achievements that we have accomplished this past year. We are filled with gratitude for the support of our community, partners, staff, teachers, and individuals who help us advance equity and opportunity through arts education!
- Advisory ARTS Council: This year, we celebrated the incredible contributions of the Advisory ARTS Council, whose members provided invaluable insights and championed arts education in our communities. Their guidance helped P.S. ARTS expand its reach and deepen its impact across California schools.
- Artist Educator Connect: The Artist Educator Connect series became a hub for creative exchange, featuring inspiring panel discussions with leaders like KJ Wade and Aiko Anglim. This program underscored the importance of inclusive teaching practices and elevated the voices of arts educators.
- Expanded Educator Development offerings: P.S. ARTS expanded its educator development programs with more workshops, online courses, and on-site training, including our Teaching Artist Seasonal Intensive (TASI), which will play a pivotal role in the solution to meet California’s pressing need for 15,000 new arts educators. As pioneers in this field, P.S. ARTS is shaping the future of arts education through innovative training approaches.
- Express Yourself expansion: P.S. ARTS expanded its signature fundraising event, Express Yourself, at the Fox Studio Lot, New York stage, increasing its guest count from last year and raising more funds for its arts education programs.
- Extended Learning Growth: Our Extended Learning program saw remarkable growth, reaching more students than ever with high-quality arts education. Under the leadership of Masis Aghilian, the program empowered youth and strengthened community connections.
- New hires: P.S. ARTS expanded its staff and its capacity to expand its programs by hiring X new positions in 2024.
- Membership Program: The launch of the P.S. ARTS Membership Program brought together a passionate community of supporters who believe in the power of creativity. Their ongoing support has helped sustain vital arts programs for thousands of students.
- Moving and Co-locating: This year marked an exciting transition as P.S. ARTS moved into new offices, designed to foster collaboration and innovation. The new space reflects our mission and provides a vibrant home for our growing team.
- Strategic Plan: P.S. ARTS continued its 3-Year Strategic Plan, a comprehensive roadmap that emphasis Programmatic Expansion to increase its service population by 50%, as well as significant advances in Educator Development, Advocacy and Policy, Board Development and Governance, and Operations, Fundraising, and Culture, with a dedicated focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives.
As we celebrate these milestones, P.S. ARTS looks forward to the opportunities 2025 will bring. With creativity and innovation at our core, we remain committed to empowering students through the arts. Thank you to our faculty, partners, donors, and volunteers for making 2024 an incredible year for arts education!
To learn more about P.S. ARTS’ mission click here and to find out ways you can help us further this mission click here.
