Arts For The Schools

Arts For The Schools is 501(c)3 non-profit with the mission is to inspire, teach and build our rural communities through equitable access to the arts and arts education. Arts For The Schools was founded to offer cultural performing arts performances, providing cultural learning opportunities, and access to artist excellence in our rural communities and schools.  

History

Founded in 1984, Arts For The Schools sought to address the decline in arts programming in rural schools, one of the unintended consequences of the 1978 ratification of California's Proposition 13, which drastically reduced education funding statewide. As a result schools in the region now rely on Arts For The Schools to provide arts programming for 10,000 students each year. 

Today Arts For The Schools programming includes this tradition of presenting performing arts excellence and cultural learning with a host of programs, festivals and workshops, as well as offers visual arts, public arts, advocacy and professional development programs.

Arts For The Schools operates seven programs three for schools and four for the public.

School Programs

The Visual Arts program teaches visual arts courses for K-12 grades, as well as integrates math, science and reading. 

The Performing Arts program provides performances and classes with critically-acclaimed, cultural performing artists for students and schools to promote cultural learning. 

 The Community School program provides in-depth training in music, visual arts and career-training for juvenile justice system youth and at-risk youth.  

Public Programs

onSTAGE Live presents acclaimed performing artists in music, dance, theater and other progressive art forms to provide equitable access to artistic excellence, community building and cultural learning. 

Mexican Heritage Festival, an annual event, will honor Latino cultural traditions and will include live music, dance, arts, artisan vendors, crafts, food and games.  In addition to supporting and celebrating Mexican artists, the festival will be an opportunity to promote and support local and Mexican-owned businesses, to increase their economic stability during Truckee’s economic off-season (which runs in the fall September – Nov).

 arTRAIN provides free arts integration trainings for classroom teachers and public schools, taught by the highest-quality trainers.

The Mural Project, a program of Arts For The Schools, will beautify the concrete walls located in front of businesses with artistic murals, in the heart of North Lake Tahoe communities.  The art will convey important local themes of environmental stewardship, history and cultural heritage, with the goal of bringing attention to local small businesses. The hope is the art will add to North Lake Tahoe community identity for years to come.

Arts For The Schools is

arts for rural communities