Dear Parents and Supporters,
First of all, THANK YOU! I am so grateful for all who have encouraged and supported me through the Parents for Arts Education journey so far. What started as an idea to mostly help fight some bills in the 87th Texas legislative session, has grown to a 501(c)3 dedicated to encouraging, supporting and advocating for fine arts education locally, statewide and nationally. I have spent most of last year bringing on a board of directors and solidifying where we all feel we can make the most impact. Next we will be focusing on growing our reach through sponsorships and donors to help increase followers and subscribers, add local PAE ambassadors, and expand Students for Arts Education chapters.
As we continue to grow, here are a few more details about our strategy for the year ahead…
Our Strategy Moving Forward:
Strengthening Advocacy and Awareness: We’re amplifying our efforts to advocate for stronger fine arts programs in schools and specifically trying to change the narrative that students need to choose their career paths younger and younger. This includes building our social media communities to spread beyond our existing networks to increase awareness of the skills learned in fine arts that are proven to contribute to success in any career. . We have started a campaign to gather stories (#becauseoffinearts) to share with decision makers along with other statewide and national arts organizations to add our powerful voice to issues affecting the future of fine arts education..
Building a Supportive, Grassroots Network: In addition to a big picture awareness campaign, we know that more can be done on a local level. I have been making presentations to administrators, teachers and parents to create our community of local arts advocates—parents, students, teachers, and alumni. Through local ambassadors and mentors coordinating local parent and student volunteers, we aim to reach the next generation about the importance of these courses, ensuring future demand and that our efforts are proactive versus reactive. Click here to apply to be a PAE local ambassador
Empowering and Encouraging Students: Through our new program “Students for Arts Education”, we plan to equip students to support, advocate and encourage all to highly participate in arts programs regardless of their future career plans. Our goal is to provide tools and resources for students to create social media content, volunteer at local events and coordinate students across all arts disciplines to collectively advocate for strong fine arts education. If you are (or know someone who would be) interested in starting a “Students for Arts Education” chapter at your school contact me at tmartin@paetx.org.
How You Can Get Involved:
Volunteer: Whether it’s helping out at events, joining our advocacy efforts, or spreading the word, there are many ways to contribute.
Stay Connected: Follow us on social media and sign up for our email list to stay informed on all upcoming events, news, and ways you can support.
Donate: Your contributions help us grow our efforts. Every donation makes a difference.
Thank you for your patience and support over the past few years. I am so excited for the future and know together we can ensure strong participation in fine arts programs in all our schools and communities!
Warm regards,
Trina Martin
Founder, Parents for Arts Education