Read the latest research, news, and policy in our arts education RECAP for May 2026.
“Jonathan Groff and Jane Lynch lend their talents at UCSB arts & lectures benefit”
Published on April 14, 2026 by the Santa Barbara Independent
One of Broadway’s best recently traveled west to support the arts at UC Santa Barbara for an evening of song and conversation. “Moderated by his ‘Glee’ co-star, Santa Barbara’s own Jane Lynch, the soiree at the Rosewood Miramar Beach is a fundraiser to support UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Access for ALL arts education program, serving 30,000 students and community members throughout Santa Barbara County each season.” Santa Barbara Independent
“California’s districts are cheating disadvantaged students out of music and arts education”
Published on April 16, 2026 by CalMatters
“In California it is your child’s legal right to have access to a fine arts education. California Education Code 51210 and 51220 states that students grades 1-6 and grades 7-12, respectively, are to have instruction in music, art, dance, and theater. These codes aren’t suggestions; they’re the law. Yet so many school districts ignore them with zero accountability and consequences.” Learn more about the state of arts education in California with this overview of CA education post Prop. 28. CalMatters
“Art is for everyone”
Published on April 22, 2026 by the Duke Chronicle
“But art is also worth doing for its own sake. It represents an incredibly powerful and foundational human impulse, which is why the history of art stretches nearly as far back as overall history. Since we first figured out how to create color and make drawings, we have pursued this passion with vigor. Art is a means to an end, but it is also a meaningful end in its own right.” Duke Chronicle
“San Antonio is overlooking one of its strongest workforce strategies, the arts”
Published on April 26, 2026 by San Antonio Express News
“According to the World Economic Forum, creative thinking, communication and collaboration are among the most in-demand skills in today’s workforce. These aren’t ‘nice to have’ qualities, they are essential, whether a student goes into health care, education, business or the skilled trades. The arts don’t just build these skills, they are a major part of our economy.” San Antonio Express News
“Why Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld supports arts education”
Published on April 27, 2026 by Swagger Magazine
“Research consistently shows that access to arts education produces outcomes that extend far beyond the studio or the stage. According to a study published by Education Next, students at schools with expanded arts programming were 20.7% less likely to have a disciplinary infraction, and school engagement rose by 8% of a standard deviation. Emotional and cognitive empathy also increased significantly, which are outcomes that no standardized test can manufacture.” Swagger Magazine
