Americans for the Arts Endorses the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) and Americans for the Arts Arts Action Fundendorses the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act, introduced by Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) . This bill would direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support arts education at minority-serving institutions of higher education (MSIs). Through the grant program, MSIs will have more resources to help bring attention to works done by BIPOC artists and support them in their endeavors.

The proposed grants could be used in a variety of ways:

• Providing financial assistance to students and arts programs
• Offering support services for studies in arts education such as peer mentoring, guidance counseling, and career advising
• Presenting art produced by the MSIs and protecting minority art collections in storage
• Providing students in arts and arts education with well-paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities and mentorship programs
• Paying for future arts educators and mentors to participate in trainings with nonprofit arts education organizations

"We applaud Representative Kamlager-Dove's vision in the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act, which would help ensure that our higher ed community continues to support and nurture the next generation of American artists and arts workers," said Suzy Delvalle and Jamie Bennett, interim co-CEOs of Americans for the Arts. "It is essential that every artist and arts worker is supported through a complete education and a quality career. Americans for the Arts will continue to work with everyone who shares this vision."

Americans for the Arts and its Arts Action Fund endorse this legislation as they take 11 arts advocates from across the nation to Capitol Hill to advocate and build support for Arts Education, among members of Congress. Learn more about our July Fly-In here.

"Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove's bill would direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support arts education at minority-serving higher education institutions (MSIs). Through the grant program, MSIs will have more resources to help bring attention to works done by BIPOC artists and support them in their endeavors," said Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Executive Director of the Arts Action Fund.

For more information, available here .