Arts program leaders ask Oroville council for continued support for school field trips

Cindy Daniluk, executive director of the State Theater Arts Guild, and Jennifer Spangler of the Butte County Office of Education told the Oroville City Council they have expanded the "Any Given Child" program to provide grade-specific field trips that pair museums and arts professionals with classrooms.

Daniluk outlined current offerings: a third-grade visit to the Chinese temple museum, a fourth-grade Pioneer Museum program tied to California history standards, a fifth-grade Dream Big music festival, and a K–3 public art show at the Oroville State Theater. "We offer a third third grade Chinese temple museum trip ... and a k through art public art show at the Oroville State Theater," she said.

Spangler said the program started in 2020 with local support letters and expanded in response to state funding changes, including the passage of Proposition 28, which "eased the need" for grant funding by guaranteeing arts and music funding for schools. She emphasized the importance of stable, paid museum and theater staff to reliably schedule and deliver high-quality field-trip experiences.

Graduate student Sarah Carmody, a CSU Chico museum-studies candidate, spoke during public comment and said Chico State students are eager for internship partnerships with Oroville museums and praised museum staff, in particular Vanessa, for work on exhibitions and outreach. "She is everything that I aspire to be as a young museum professional," Carmody said.

Council members thanked the presenters, and vice mayor Smith and others noted the programs potential to boost youth development and downtown visitation. The council agreed to continue listening to staff recommendations about funding and internship coordination; no formal vote or appropriation was taken at the meeting.

The next step: the council expects staff to return with any concrete funding requests or partnership proposals as the citys budget and museum staffing plans are developed.