In recognition of the belief that an education without the arts is incomplete, the Mayor’s Breakfast offered information about the resources and funding available to help schools establish arts education as part of a comprehensive curriculum, and featured examples of model partnerships between Valley arts organizations and Phoenix schools.

Celebrating the role of arts in education, Mayor Gordon formally announced the award of a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant from the U.S. Department of Education to the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture to support an after-school arts program in the Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 with services provided by nine local arts groups.

Speaking separately, Mayor Phil Gordon, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, and Councilman Greg Stanton, Chair of the City Council’s Education, Culture and Genomics Subcommittee, all stressed the importance of art within a comprehensive educational curriculum. Offering proof of his focus on incorporating arts into day-to-day school operations, Superintendent Horne introduced newly appointed Arts Program Specialist Lynn Tuttle, who will work to coordinate arts education initiatives throughout the state of Arizona.

Illustrating a variety of approaches for integrating arts into education, four presentations highlighted model partnerships between local arts groups and schools. Superintendent Rene Dias provided details on the 21st Century Community Learning Grant Programs in Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1; Andre Licardi described the Peoria Unified School District’s work with ASU Public Events Kennedy Center Artist; Amy Khan and Mary Boss discussed the collaboration between Litchfield Elementary and the Phoenix Conservatory of Music; and Mark Francis outlined the alliance between the Arizona School for the Arts and the Phoenix Theatre.

 Student members of Ocotillo Dragon Taiko Drummers perform at the Orpheum Theatre – photo by Bob Rink

Additional proof of the success of such partnerships was provided by three student arts groups that performed during the morning. The Queen’s Ensemble of the Paradise Valley High School Strings Program gave attendees a musical welcome during the breakfast, and the Ocotillo Dragon Taiko Drummers and Palomino Ballet Folklorico Fiesta Mexicana, two groups created through the PAC Arts after-school program, also provided rousing entertainment.

Gretchen Boyer, of the Arizona Alliance for Arts Education, presented the AAAE’s Tool-Kit, a comprehensive package of information designed to help school administrators plan and fund arts curricula. Additional resources and funding opportunities were suggested by Jocelyn Hanson, Arts-In-Education Director of the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, and representatives of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Arizona Community Foundation, and Wells Fargo.

For additional information on Arts-in-Education resources, contact Jocelyn Hanson at 602-495-0189.