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Groundwork Arts outlines plan to expand K–12 arts access, reports reaching more than 3,000 students
Summary
Representatives and students from Groundwork Arts described the nonprofit’s work during a public meeting, saying the program currently serves TK–6 directly and reaches more than 7,000 students via videos while seeking to expand to TK–12 and continue partnerships with local schools.
Groundwork Arts representatives told a public meeting that the nonprofit reaches about 3,167 students directly through in-person programming and more than 7,000 students through featured-artist and project videos, and said it aims to expand services from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade to TK–12.
The presentation emphasized that Groundwork Arts’ mission is to “ensure that K through 12 students, their families, and teachers have equitable access to the arts,” provide an expanded visual and performing arts (VAPA) curriculum, support social and emotional learning and offer professional development for credentialed teachers. “Our goal is to fill a gap within the VAPA curriculum,” a Groundwork Arts representative said.
Groundwork Arts said it currently works TK–6 and described the program as serving a largely rural, socioeconomically challenged area. “We reach about 3,167 students directly. But through our video, featured artist videos and art project videos, it’s accessible to all of our students, which is over 7,000 students,” the representative said. The group said it connects local artists and arts organizations with students, families and teachers and highlighted a partnership with Morongo Unified School District.
A Groundwork Arts instructor who spoke during the presentation described the program’s classroom work as more in-depth than materials teachers might find online. “Art in schools is incredibly important, and before Groundwork Arts, it was relying on the teachers to provide art,” the instructor said. “I love teaching art, but this is a little more in-depth, a little more, a wide range of art projects, not found on Pinterest or YouTube.”
Two student speakers described personal benefits from participating. One student said, “I like how it’s, like, really colorful when you do art. It’s like a really relaxing thing to do. Because like when you like paint, it’s like really soothing.” Another student added, “It makes me want to feel good and creative, and it makes you happy, and makes you feel kind of creative to make anything.”
Speakers urged continuation of the program. “We need to continue this. We need art. We need music. Just as important, if not more important than our core subjects. We need this program,” a student said.
The meeting record contains no formal motions, votes or requests for specific funding amounts. The presentation was recorded as a discussion and outreach update; no board action was shown in the transcript.
